Its not a cello or is it?

[Lowner]

I play electric bass and have never had the desire to play the double bass. But my friend and I were at a coffe shop with a jazz trio playing. i mentioned the bass player and she says he is not playing the bass he is playing the cello. I said no its an double bass or upright and they are bigger than cellos. I said I am a bass player so i know its not a cello. She says no I was wrong. Who is wrong,, me or my friend/

[PaulCannon]

Probably your friend, but I suppose it's possible you saw a jazz trio with a cellist rather than a bassist. However, double bass would be the traditional bass instrument for most jazz ensembles.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cello
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_bass

[Marcus Johnson]

Seven out of ten casual observers tell me that I'm playing a cello, so I guess they're the same thing.

[relacey]

It's pretty simple. If you look at it and think "How the *&%$# would I get that home?" It's a double bass. Otherwise, it's a cello.