Double Bass String Guide
Which strings are on your double bass?
On smaller screens, scroll the table sideways. Match the coloured silk at the tailpiece and in the pegbox to find possible string makes and ranges. This chart covers 39 double bass string ranges and variants, with patterns, colour names and notes to help you distinguish similar strings.
| Maker & range | G string | D string | A string | E string | Variants & notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CorelliUnspecified legacy range | Tailpiecewhite/violet spiral Pegboxblack | Tailpiecewhite/violet spiral Pegboxmagenta | Tailpiecewhite/violet spiral Pegboxyellow | Tailpiecewhite/violet spiral Pegboxred | Older unnumbered chart. Catalog number unspecified; do not apply this scheme to all Corelli bass ranges. |
| D’AddarioHelicore Hybrid | Tailpiecegreen/yellow spiral Pegboxred | Tailpiecegreen/yellow spiral Pegboxyellow | Tailpiecegreen/yellow spiral Pegboxblack | Tailpiecegreen/yellow spiral Pegboxgreen | Published bass chart. Light tension adds yellow; heavy adds orange. Low B uses blue pegbox silk. Check variant and winding material. |
| D’AddarioHelicore Orchestra | Tailpieceblue/yellow spiral Pegboxred | Tailpieceblue/yellow spiral Pegboxyellow | Tailpieceblue/yellow spiral Pegboxblack | Tailpieceblue/yellow spiral Pegboxgreen | Published bass chart. Light tension adds yellow; heavy adds orange. Low B uses blue pegbox silk. Check variant and winding material. |
| D’AddarioHelicore Pizzicato | Tailpiecered/yellow spiral Pegboxred | Tailpiecered/yellow spiral Pegboxyellow | Tailpiecered/yellow spiral Pegboxblack | Tailpiecered/yellow spiral Pegboxgreen | Published bass chart. Light tension adds yellow; heavy adds orange. Low B uses blue pegbox silk. Check variant and winding material. |
| D’AddarioKaplan | Tailpiecegrey/black spiral Pegboxred | Tailpiecegrey/black spiral Pegboxyellow | Tailpiecegrey/black spiral Pegboxblack | Tailpiecegrey/black spiral Pegboxgreen | Published bass chart. Light tension adds yellow; heavy adds orange. Low B uses blue pegbox silk. Check variant and winding material. |
| D’AddarioPrelude | Tailpieceblue Pegboxred | Tailpieceblue Pegboxyellow | Tailpieceblue Pegboxblack | Tailpieceblue Pegboxgreen | Published bass chart. Light tension adds yellow; heavy adds orange. Low B uses blue pegbox silk. Check variant and winding material. |
| D’AddarioZyex | Tailpieceorange/red spiral Pegboxred | Tailpieceorange/red spiral Pegboxyellow | Tailpieceorange/red spiral Pegboxblack | Tailpieceorange/red spiral Pegboxgreen | Published bass chart. Light tension adds yellow; heavy adds orange. Low B uses blue pegbox silk. Check variant and winding material. |
| InnovationGolden Slap — earlier code | Tailpiecedark green Pegboxred | Tailpiecedark green Pegboxyellow | Tailpiecedark green Pegboxcyan | Tailpiecedark green Pegboxlime | Earlier reference scheme; modern peghead codes are described below. |
| InnovationHoney — earlier code | Tailpieceturquoise Pegboxred | Tailpieceturquoise Pegboxyellow | Tailpieceturquoise Pegboxcyan | Tailpieceturquoise Pegboxlime | Earlier reference scheme; modern peghead codes are described below. |
| InnovationSuper Silver — earlier code | Tailpieceblack Pegboxred | Tailpieceblack Pegboxyellow | Tailpieceblack Pegboxcyan | Tailpieceblack Pegboxlime | Earlier reference scheme; modern peghead codes are described below. |
| JargarDolce | Tailpiecegreen Pegboxgreen | Tailpiecegreen Pegboxgreen | Tailpiecegreen Pegboxgreen | Tailpiecegreen Pegboxgreen | Secondary bass reference; check gauge and packaging. |
| JargarForte | Tailpiecered Pegboxlight blue | Tailpiecered Pegboxlight blue | Tailpiecered Pegboxlight blue | Tailpiecered Pegboxlight blue | Secondary bass reference; check gauge and packaging. |
| JargarMedium | Tailpiece
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