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Double bass

Musical Instrument
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

The largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the orchestra

Detailed Definition
The double bass appears in poetry as a foundation of harmony, quiet strength, and hidden depth; its resonant presence symbolizes the unsung support of community, the gravity of time, or the bassline of emotional life beneath more visible melodies in lyrical composition.
Example
Example in poetry:
In orchestral poetry, the double bass’s deep pulse grounds the ensemble like roots in soil; Poets describe its size as “a man-shaped shadow singing in the dark”; The double bass appears in jazz verse as the walking line that guides improvisation; Its role in tango inspires poems about tension—strings pulled taut with desire; The double bass becomes a metaphor for support—essential yet often unseen; Contemporary poets use the double bass to explore foundation—low notes holding up the sky of melody.
Additional Notes
The double bass (or contrabass) anchors orchestral and jazz ensembles with its deep, resonant foundation; its physical size and tactile playing invite metaphors of support, gravity, or the unseen structures holding society together—poets can use it to explore depth, silence, or the weight of history.
Also Known As
Upright bass string bass contrabass
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