The double bass’s range in notes and hertz
| Sounding | Written | Frequency | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme low | C1 | C2 | 32.70 Hz |
| Practical low | E1 | E2 | 41.20 Hz |
| Practical high | G3 | G4 | 196.00 Hz |
| Extreme high | D5 | D6 | 587.33 Hz |
E1 to G3 is what orchestral parts ask for. A C extension takes the E string down to C1, and the fingerboard runs to about D5 for solo playing. Parts are written an octave above the sound.
Written and sounding pitch
The double bass is a transposing instrument: it sounds an octave lower than written. So the range on its part is E2–G4, while the notes you hear are E1–G3. The transposing-instrument tuner reads out the written note as you play.
Instruments with a similar range
The instruments whose normal range shares the most notes with the double bass’s:
- Bass guitar · E1–G4 28 notes shared
- Bass ukulele · E1–B3 28 notes shared
- Contrabassoon · B♭0–D4 28 notes shared
- Piano · A0–C8 28 notes shared
- French horn · F1–F5 27 notes shared
- Tuba · F1–C4 27 notes shared
Tune it, play it
- Double bass tuner — tune by microphone, with the double bass’s own target notes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the range of a double bass?
The double bass’s normal range runs from E1 to G3 — 41.20 to 196.00 Hz, about 2.3 octaves. At the extremes it reaches C1–D5. Its part is written E2–G4, because it sounds an octave lower than written.
What is the lowest note on a double bass?
C1 (32.70 Hz), on instruments that have it; the usual bottom is E1.
What is the highest note on a double bass?
G3 is the top of the normal range, and D5 (587.33 Hz) is reachable at the extreme.