Double Bass Sizing

Basses also come in several sizes. There are 1/2, 1/4, and 1/8 size basses available for smaller students. The size most professionals play is the 3/4 size. Occasionally you may come across a 7/8 bass, but  4/4 basses are extremely rare because they are simply too large for most people to play.  Among these general size categories, string length and body size varies, depending on the maker.

Size of the student's left hand is an important factor when selecting a bass size. The student's hand should be able to reach the notes in first position. It may be a stretch, but they should not need to shift to span a whole step between 1st and 4th finger.

Size of the student's body and the size of the bass should be a good fit. A student's left hand may fit the instrument well because of the string length, but the size of the bass may be too large for the student to play comfortably. Unlike the other string instruments, double bass bodies come in different styles.

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