: What are some good options for playing a note written below the standard range of a double bass? I am currently playing a song for orchestra that requires me to play a d below the bass clef staff. Is there any reason why

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A five string bass has been my answer for many years now - albeit an electric bass guitar. That won't help you as you don't want to spend lots of money, even for a string bass.

The option of de-tuning is not a bad one, but will jeopardise the rest of the piece as far as fingering is concerned.Were you using an electric bass guitar, then I'd recommend a 'Detuna', which with a flick, takes E down to D.

The option of playing that D note is a possibility, but it must fit in with the rest of the phrase(s). You can't really be playing a line of music downwards towards that D, only to jump nearly an octave when the D is required.

EDIT: another idea I've used on bass guitars - but would work on string basses is to move the strings up, so there is space where the lowest was for a heavier grade string, which gets tuned to B. So, B E A D. Obviously, this works until higher notes are required, but that's not in every piece.

EXTRA EDIT: there's always the 5ths tuning, which is an octave beow ceollo tuning, as in C G D A, so takes the lowest note down far enough, but needs practice to get used to different fingering. That's probably the best option!

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Just take a 5 strings double Bass:

It looks like this instrument already exists:

I don’t mean you have to buy another instrument. You might lease or rent one.

Or you could tune the E-string in D and put a movable bridge near the f-hole (only for the D string of course) or single “fret” near the nut which you can keep there (like a capo) when needing the E-tuned string and take away when you use the D ...

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Since the standard 4 string double bass only goes down to E, and the cello down to C, this has been an issue for centuries. Many 4 string basses these days have an extension device fitted to the E string which enables Eb, D, Db and C when needed. This might be a cheaper option for you. Also, plenty of 4 string players are quite happy to tune down to a D for a whole piece, as they are flexible in fingering those notes.
It is quite common for composers to jump up the octave when necessary if the line goes below the standard E (with the cellos continuing down). You can lose something in doing that (depending on the shape of the passage) but it's not a big issue.