The contrabass has the lowest tonal range in the string instrument family. It was developed from the bass instrument in the gamba family. The sound of the contrabass is very dark and broad. Its status as the most important bass instrument in the orchestra was established during the 18th century. It is rarely used as a solo instrument.

The strings made of wound metal (earlier made of lamb intestines or silk) are tuned to E1, A1, D and G. In some versions a fifth string tuned to B2 is added, or the E-string has a special mechanism which allows similar tonal possibilities. The strings are attached to metal tuning knobs. The contrabass sounds an octave lower than written.

There are two different techniques regarding the bow grip. The German school grips the bow from below, the French school holds it from above, like the violin bow.

The instruments of the violin family are regarded as the most challenging and versatile in the orchestra. They are combined with all other orchestral instruments. Musical effects like sul ponticello, pizzicato and various harmonics are particularly effective with the contrabass.

Different string playing techniques:

Bartok pizzicato: a string is pulled with force so it slams down on the fingerboard
Con legno: strings are played with the wooden part of the bow
detache: steady backward and forward movement of the bow
le grand detache: with full extent of the bow
legato: several notes with one bow movement
pizzicato: strings are plucked by fingers
ricochet: the bow bounces on a string with one string movement
spiccato: the bow bounces. A fast "staccato", marked by a dot beneath a note.
Staccato: the bow does not part with string, and stops. Marked by dot.
Sul ponticello: bow plays close to the bridge
Sul tasto: strings are bowed above the fingerboard
Tremolo: fast backward-forward movement on one or more strings

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