double-bass

/'dʌbl'beis/

Thân thiện

The orchestra's double-bass section provides a deep, resonant foundation.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Pitched an octave below the normal bass range: Used to describe musical instruments or vocal parts that produce sounds one octave lower than the standard bass instruments or voices in their family.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The orchestra featured a powerful double-bass clarinet in the low passage.
  • He specializes in playing the double-bass saxophone, an exceptionally rare instrument.

Advanced Usage

• The term is primarily used in a musical context as a modifier before the name of an instrument (e.g., double-bass clarinet, double-bass trombone). It specifies the instrument's unique low pitch.

Variants and Related Words

• Contrabass (adj/n): A synonym for , often used interchangeably. As a noun, it can refer to the double bass (the string instrument) or other low-pitched instruments.
  • The contrabassoon is a double-bass version of the bassoon.

Synonyms

• Contrabass: Having the same pitch, an octave below bass.

Notes on Meaning

• Important Distinction: The hyphenated adjective "double-bass" should not be confused with the noun "double bass" (often written without a hyphen), which refers specifically to the large, low-pitched string instrument also known as the contrabass or upright bass. The adjective describes the pitch range; the noun names a particular instrument.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. pitched an octave below normal bass instrumental or vocal range
   • contrabass or double-bass clarinet

Từ đồng nghĩa

• contrabass