How to choose a beginner double bass: sizes and types
3/4 is the standard adult size, and a laminated bass is a beginner's best friend. What to check, how to adjust the string height and how to sort out transport.
Most adults play a 3/4 double bass, which is effectively the standard “full” size. To get started, a laminated or hybrid bass, set up by a luthier with a reasonable string height, is the most sensible choice: it withstands knocks, transport, and changes in climate, and works for orchestral playing, jazz, and popular music.
The double bass brings challenges other instruments do not: how you will move it, where you will store it, and how much strength it demands from your left hand. Thinking these through before buying helps avoid surprises.
In short
- 3/4 is the usual adult size; 1/4 and 1/2 suit children, teenagers, and shorter adults.
- Laminated basses are durable and versatile; carved basses have a richer bowed sound but need more care; hybrids fall in between.
- String height determines whether you can play without pain: have a luthier adjust it.
- Work out transportation before buying: the bass’s bulk is more of a challenge than its weight.
- Decide with your teacher whether you will use a French or German bow before buying one.
1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 sizes: which one fits you?
Double bass fractions do not work like violin sizes: 3/4 is the standard adult size, while 4/4 is a very large instrument that few players use.
| Size | Who it usually suits | Approximate height |
|---|---|---|
| 1/10 and 1/8 | Children starting at a young age | Under 1.35 m |
| 1/4 | Children around 9 to 11 years old | 1.35 to 1.50 m |
| 1/2 | Teenagers aged 11 to 14 and shorter adults | 1.50 to 1.60 m |
| 3/4 | Most tall teenagers and adults | Over 1.60 m |
| 4/4 | Few players, nearly always very tall with large hands | Rarely used |
Even within the same size, the scale length—the vibrating length of the string—varies. On a 3/4 bass, it depends on the model and manufacturer; ask for the measurement before buying. A shorter scale reduces the distances between notes and is easier on small hands.
The standing test
- Adjust the endpin so that, when you stand with the bass resting gently against your body, the nut (at the end of the fingerboard near the tuning machines) is roughly level with your eyebrows or forehead.
- With your left hand in the first positions, your first finger should be close to eye level, with your shoulder relaxed.
- You should be able to bow between the bridge and the end of the fingerboard with your right arm comfortable and your shoulder down.
- In the lower positions, try spanning a whole step between your first and fourth fingers. If you cannot do it without pain, look for a smaller size or shorter scale.
Many bassists play seated on a tall stool; if you will too, repeat the test sitting down.
Laminated, hybrid, or carved
| Laminated | Hybrid | Carved | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction | Top, back, and sides made of pressed layers of wood | Carved solid-wood top; laminated back and sides | Entirely carved solid wood |
| Sound | Direct sound with a good pizzicato attack | More resonant when bowed | The richest, deepest bowed sound |
| Resistance to knocks and climate changes | High | Medium | Low: sensitive to humidity and sudden changes |
| Maintenance | Bass | Moderate | High, with regular luthier inspections |
| Who it is for | Beginners, schools, jazz, popular music, travel | Students planning to pursue orchestral playing | Advanced students and professionals |
For beginners, laminated construction has a huge practical advantage: double basses bump into doorframes, elevators, and car trunks. A crack in a carved bass means a major repair; a laminated bass is much more forgiving.
Colombia’s climate adds another reason. If you travel between Bogotá and warmer lowland areas for orchestra gatherings or festivals, humidity changes affect a carved bass much more. A laminated bass travels with less worry.
String height and setup: what matters most at the beginning
A bass with high strings is exhausting: your left hand works much harder, pizzicato becomes difficult, and pain sets in. If the strings are too low, though, notes buzz against the fingerboard.
- General guideline: the ideal string height depends on the instrument, strings, and playing style (bowing, jazz, or pizzicato). Have a luthier or your teacher determine it, measuring at the end of the fingerboard.
- Adjustable bridge: many basses have threaded wheels in the bridge legs to raise or lower the strings as the seasons change. They are useful, but it is best to have a luthier or your teacher adjust them.
- Fingerboard: it must be properly planed. An uneven fingerboard causes buzzing on certain notes even when the string height is correct.
- Nut: if the strings sit too high here, the first positions become hard to play.
- Strings: medium-tension steel-core strings are a common choice for beginners; lower-tension strings are also available and are easier to play pizzicato. Your teacher will recommend strings based on what you plan to play.
Always ask whether the bass has been set up. An instrument straight from the factory without a setup can be almost unplayable, while a good setup can transform a basic laminated bass.
French or German bow
| French bow | German bow | |
|---|---|---|
| How you hold it | Like a cello bow, with your hand over the stick | With the hand turned sideways around a tall bow frog, as if holding a saw |
| Frog | Low and narrow | Tall and wide |
| Feel | Agile, with plenty of control near the tip | Plenty of support from the arm’s weight on the string |
| Benefits | A natural transition if you already play cello | A firm sound with little effort |
Neither is better: both are used with excellent results. What matters is matching the bow to your teacher’s approach, so speak with them before buying it.
Double bass rosin is very soft and sticky, unlike violin and cello rosin. Keep it in its box and out of the sun: in hot lowland climates, it softens and loses its shape.
Transport and space: sort them out before buying
- Car: a 3/4 fits in many cars with the front passenger seat reclined or the rear seat folded down, but measure first. Hatchbacks and SUVs are easier.
- Taxis and ride apps: not every driver will take it; mention its size when booking.
- Public transportation: taking a double bass at rush hour is rarely realistic.
- Gig bag: thick and padded, with a bow pocket, backpack straps, and handles in several places. A wheel that attaches to the endpin makes short trips easier.
- At home: keep it in a safe corner, lying on its side or on a stand, away from windows, opening doors, and areas where children and pets pass through.
Many bassists use the orchestra’s or school’s instrument at rehearsals and keep another at home for practice; ask whether your program lends instruments. For everyday care, see how to care for a double bass.
What to check in the store or on a used double bass
- Neck joint: look at the heel, where the neck joins the body. A crack or separation there means a major repair.
- Top: check around the f-holes and under the bridge feet; look for cracks and sinking.
- Seams: tap the edges gently with your knuckles. A buzz or a different hollow sound indicates an open seam.
- Bridge: straight, with no warping and both feet fully seated.
- Tuning machines: each geared tuner should turn smoothly, without skipping or play.
- Endpin: it should slide in and out and lock firmly in place.
- Sound: play each open string and several stopped notes, in pizzicato and with the bow if you can.
Frequently asked questions
Is it better to start on electric bass or double bass?
It depends on the music you want to play. For orchestral and chamber music, choose double bass. For rock, pop, and much popular music, electric bass is more practical. Many jazz musicians play both. If you lean toward electric bass, read how to choose your first electric bass.
At what age can you start playing double bass?
Small double basses are available for children, and many start around age 9 or 10, sometimes after a period of playing cello. Height and hand strength are the deciding factors, which the teacher assesses in the first lessons.
Why is it so hard to press down double bass strings?
The strings are thick and under tension, and the notes are far apart. That is why bassists use specific fingering techniques and draw strength from the arm’s weight, not just the fingers. If the string height is also wrong, the effort multiplies: have a luthier check it.
Can you learn on an electric upright bass?
Electric upright and silent practice basses let you practice without disturbing others and make travel easier, but bow response and the feel of the body differ. An acoustic bass is preferable for learning properly, with an electric upright as a supplement.
Sources
We checked the facts in this article against these sources on October 22, 2026.