Bass << bays >>, a stringed musical instrument, is the largest and lowest-pitched member of the violin family. It is also called the bass viol, contrabass, or double bass. A bass measures about 6 feet (1.8 meters) long. Most basses have four strings, with an optional mechanism for lengthening the bottom string to lower the pitch. The player’s right hand plucks the strings or uses a bow. The left hand sets the pitch by pressing the strings against the fingerboard. Large symphony orchestras have 8 to 10 basses, and some chamber music groups include a bass. The bass is an important rhythm instrument in jazz and popular music.
See also Jazz (The bass).
Bass (violin)
