The double bass (also known as the contrabass, string bass, upright bass, or simply bass) is the largest and lowest pitched bowed string instrument used in the modern symphony orchestra. It is used extensively in Western classical music as a standard member of the string section of symphony orchestras and smaller string ensembles. In addition, it is used in other genres such as jazz, blues, rock and roll, rockabilly, psychobilly, and bluegrass. Like many other string instruments, the double bass is played with a bow (arco) or by plucking the strings (pizzicato).