Double Bass "Upright" or "Double" Bass?

[tomersg]

I don't play upright, either. I play double bass.

do you play on two basses at the same time?

 

[eerbrev]

I'm for Contrabass, mostly, especially because that's what it's called in so many other languages (most importantly for me, it's La Contrebasse en Francais). I do use "bass" to be quick sometimes, and double bass on occasion.

eerbrev

 

[Anonymatt]

I really just try to use the word that is going to tell somebody exactly what they might need to know to understand the instrument I'm talking about in the correct context. To most people "upright bass" is the practical term I use to say "NOT the electric". "Contrabass" or whatever is a little esoteric even if you grew up with your parents taking you to see classical music sometimes.

If I sideways referred to my bass as a "bull fiddle" and a layperson doesn't get it, it's certainly not their problem. Like, I'm not gonna say "Hey, make sure you catch my contrabass!" before I throw the thing at them. "What's a contra--" Maybe that would work on a burglar or something.

If I'm telling some girl I play bass, it's okay if she imagines me playing the EB, even though in a perfect world I'd try to figure out some way to brag about the DB.

 

[Don Higdon]

do you play on two basses at the same time?

Play, no. Own, yes, often times more than two. It's a sickness.

 

[ThumpPlunkJunk]

I usually go with "Double Bass".

If I say I play bass, and people say "Oh, bass guitar?" I just say, "No, the real one."

 

[WilliamJames]

If I say double bass nobody knows what the heck I'm talking about. Even a lot of musicians think I'm talking about heavy metal drums.

So upright or bass fiddle is what I call it.

 

[Bruce Lindfield]

Surely this conversation is redundant, as the forum we are in, clearly states : "Double Bass Forum" - so if you're here, it's only polite to go with what the owner decides.

 

[gerry grable]

I call it a bass. If I'm playing my electric, it's a fender, with a small "f."

 

[GregT]

Gosh, I never knew this was any kind of misunderstanding. It is English. I have always called it an upright bass or a bass violin. It's English. If people know what I say, it's good enough. I will, however, try to start saying double bass here.

With that said, if someone were to correct me publicly, I might say something like, "I'll make you a deal, you don't correct my poor English and I won't correct your bad manners." Actually that might be a little rude, and I do my best not to be a rude person here or anywhere else.

But I will start referring to my bass as a double bass or a bass when I am here. Not because I think upright is an evil word or anything. Just practicing my lexicon.

Easing my famine
At my Lexicon --
Logarithm -- had I -- for Drink --
'Twas a dry Wine -- Emily Dickinson

 

[mattburgbass]

I tend to go either way in calling it "upright" or "double". But if I just say "bass", everyone immediately thinks of the bass guitar for some reason. So I always have to do the: "No the *double bass hand motions* bigger bass." ignorant people.

 

[ShiftyShift]

I've always called it a Dogwood Bass, because thats what my uncle called it. I use Double Bass usually when in TB, but when I tell people what I play I say Dogwood