Double Bass

Quick Facts

Instrument Key
C (octave below)
Transposition Interval
Octave down
Written C sounds as
C2
Instrument Family
strings
Instrument Page
Double Bass on Tunable

Written vs. Sounding Pitch — Frequency Table

Each row shows a written pitch (as it appears in the score) and the concert-pitch note that sounds when played. Frequencies are equal temperament at A4=440Hz.

Written Note Written Hz Sounding Note Sounding Hz
C3 130.81 Hz C2 65.41 Hz
D3 146.83 Hz D2 73.42 Hz
E3 164.81 Hz E2 82.41 Hz
F3 174.61 Hz F2 87.31 Hz
G3 196.00 Hz G2 98.00 Hz
A3 220.00 Hz A2 110.00 Hz
B3 246.94 Hz B2 123.47 Hz
C4 261.63 Hz C3 130.81 Hz

Key Signature Conversion Table

When the conductor names a concert key, this table shows what key signature the Double Bass player reads. The player reads the written key; the audience hears the sounding key.

Written Key (Player Reads) Sounding Key (Concert Pitch)
C major C major (octave down)
G major G major (octave down)
D major D major (octave down)
A major A major (octave down)
E major E major (octave down)
B major B major (octave down)
F# major F# major (octave down)
F major F major (octave down)
Bb major Bb major (octave down)
Eb major Eb major (octave down)
Ab major Ab major (octave down)
Db major Db major (octave down)

Practical Scenarios

Orchestral Section: Matching Cello Section Pitch

The cello section is playing concert C3 (130.81 Hz). The double bass also plays C3 written — but sounds C2 (65.41 Hz), an octave below the cello. The basses reinforce and add depth without requiring a different written note. The score shows the same note for both instruments; the bass sounds lower.

Jazz: Walking Bass Line in Concert Bb

The jazz chart shows a Bb7 chord in concert pitch. The bassist reads Bb2 written (116.54 Hz written), which sounds as Bb1 (58.27 Hz). The bassist and pianist are an octave apart on the "same" note. This is standard jazz bass practice.

Tuning Open Strings

The double bass open strings E-A-D-G are written as E2-A2-D3-G3 in the bass part. They sound as E1-A1-D2-G2 (an octave lower). When a bassist says their lowest string is "E," they mean written E2 which sounds E1 = 41.20 Hz.

Why Does the Double Bass Transpose?

The double bass sounds one octave below written pitch — a convention established so that bass parts can be written in bass clef using comfortable ledger lines rather than requiring sub-bass clef or constant ledger lines below the staff. The double bass is the only standard orchestral string instrument with octave transposition (violins, violas, and cellos are all concert-pitch instruments). The octave transposition is largely transparent in orchestral practice since bass parts are always written at concert pitch register convention in scores. String bass players in jazz also read written pitch with the octave sounding below.

Tune Your Double Bass with Precision — Get Tunable.

Tunable's chromatic tuner shows exact Hz values in real time. Tune to equal temperament A4=440Hz or explore all 16 temperament systems.

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Related Instruments

Piccolo same guide (octave-transposing instruments) Guitar same guide (octave-transposing instruments)

How to Transpose for C (octave below) Instruments

All Transposing Instruments · Circle of Fifths · Keys Reference · Temperament Systems