Which instrument is the largest member of the violin family?

The double bass is the largest member of the violin family.

It is also called the contrabass or upright bass and produces the lowest usual range in the string family. Its large body, long neck, and thick strings allow it to sound substantially lower than the cello. Players commonly perform it standing or seated on a tall stool.

The double bass has features associated with both the violin and viol families. Modern instruments may have sloping shoulders like violins, while some retain details linked to viols. It is used in orchestras, chamber groups, jazz ensembles, folk music, and many popular styles.

Most orchestral double basses have four strings, though five-string versions are also used. Standard orchestral tuning is generally in fourths, unlike the violin, viola, and cello, which are tuned in fifths. This combination of size and tuning helps the bass provide a foundation for ensemble music.