Bows: Under the E string!

llacnayr · #1 11-05-2008, 11:20 AM

Watching a middle school play last night, I became disgusted. The little 7th grade bass players put their bow in their F hole instead of under the E string!

I didn't confront them, but I did visualize the bow beating around in the basses body and the bow dinging up. Putting the bow under the E string looks more professional and does not damage your bow or bass.

This isn't much of a discussion topic, more like just sharing technique.

dchan · #2 11-05-2008, 12:31 PM

When I first started playing, my teacher, a professional symphony bassist, put his bow under the E-string and in the F-hole. Either way didn't matter to me.

So when on my first day of playing with my high school's orchestra, I put my bow in the F-hole because the string height on the bass was really low; the principal bassist and the conductor, who was a professional bassist, reprimanded me for that. Their reason was that the F-hole was the weakest part of the bass, and the bow could break off part of it. It was a good reason, so I never put it in the F-hole again.

I think the reason we put the bow under the E string is to protect the bow while not damaging the bass, which is why I do it any time I have to leave my bass during a break. I've seen some bassists leave the bow on their stands during breaks, and that's just asking for someone to accidentally bump into the stand. See this thread:

Snap!

CPike · #3 11-05-2008, 04:47 PM

One person's preference is another's horror - there are good and bad arguments for anything you do with your bow when you aren't playing. But as for putting the bow in the f-hole, I think we can all agree it's a no-no - not just for the possibility of breaking the wing of of the f-hole but also snapping off the tip of the bow if it's not pulled out with care...

Before I got a trash can (quiver) I always had put my bow under A string - tip pointing down toward the bridge. Never had any issues. But, I do think it's unwise for middle and high schoolers to do this - because it does take a certain amount of coordination to lift the string with one hand, safely slide the bow under with the other hand all the while holding the bass. Once I tried to show a kid how to do this - he followed my directions with a cheap plywood bass and a glasser bow and the bow just flipped out of his hands almost dropping the bass in the process. I see all manner of bow storage in my professional travels - trash can, music stand, under string, between bridge legs/tip wedged under tailpiece near saddle, etc. The safest (but least convenient) method would of course be to place the bow back in your bow case (if you have one) - some pros keep their bow cases nearby for this very purpose. We all rationalize our predilections to some degree, don't we?

I've always stored my bass leaning in a corner of wherever I live - been doing it for decades now. I've seen people react in horror when they see or hear of it. The only real close call I've had with the bass-in-the-corner routine is when my cat gets frisky and decides it's a tree that needs swift climbing... ha ha

Chris

kgoism · #4 11-05-2008, 04:49 PM

what do you mean by "under the E string." Where would that be?

CPike · #5 11-05-2008, 05:21 PM

The bow is placed on top of the fingerboard, parallel, with the E (or A, or both) holding the bow firmly in place.

Brandon Tuomiko · #6 11-05-2008, 05:30 PM

My kay basses action is soo high the bow will not stay under the E string very well. I guess I really need to lower the action a bit. What do you say ryan, doesnt my action just suck??

Brandon Tuomiko · #7 11-05-2008, 06:14 PM

why dont you, ryan, make a thread about ur bass, and bow

llacnayr · #8 11-05-2008, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brandon Tuomiko

What do you say ryan, doesnt my action just suck??

Yea men, if you keep that bass then invest in a new bridge, it's hard to play :/

John Perrin · #9 11-05-2008, 09:13 PM

Back in highschool one of the bassists in our orchestra used to keep his bow under the bridge with the tip of the bow resting on the tailpiece cable. Of course, I once saw that same dude eat a piece of music before an audition.

Better than the F hole I guess...

llacnayr · #10 11-05-2008, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kgoism

what do you mean by "under the E string." Where would that be?

Wedging the wood of the bow between the fingerboard and the E string

Brandon Tuomiko · #11 11-06-2008, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Perrin

Back in highschool one of the bassists in our orchestra used to keep his bow under the bridge with the tip of the bow resting on the tailpiece cable. Of course, I once saw that same dude eat a piece of music before an audition.

Better than the F hole I guess...

Yea I used to do that, but that was when I used my 4/4 sized kay, with a 3/4 sized bow and it never stayed under there.

??"eating paper is good for you"??

Joe Ergle · #12 11-06-2008, 07:19 AM

The very first time I took a lesson, I pranced into my instructor's room with my bow proudly protruding from my high school bass's F hole. My instructor, after having introduced himself and whatnot, looked down at my bow and said without pause, "First of all... don't do that." I heeded his advice and have since kept my bow under the E string (B string nowadays). What's funny is that my Juzek has a heap of scratches on the fingerboard from previous owners putting the bow under the string and scratching it with the screw. How could anyone be so careless? At least it helps me tell where D is

I guess I'm going to have to buy a quiver soon. I'm in a charanga ensemble, and most of the songs start out arco for a few measures, then switch to pizz for the rest of the piece. I feel properly silly trying to get my Latin jam on with a bow in my hand.

llacnayr · #13 11-06-2008, 08:41 AM

Yea Joe even better then putting your bow under the E string would just be getting a 20 dollar quiver to keep from scratches and switching from arco to pizz in the middle of the songs

Joe Ergle · #14 11-06-2008, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by llacnayr

Yea Joe even better then putting your bow under the E string would just be getting a 20 dollar quiver to keep from scratches and switching from arco to pizz in the middle of the songs

Ever more betterer, I've been thinking of making my own quiver. I think that's a piece of luthiery (lol) that I'd be able to handle, and it could potentially add a touch of character (or hideousness) to my bass.

Interesting thought: Anyone ever heard of a denim quiver? Bad idea? Why? I could implant a wire around the brim of it so it stays open. Though I normally only see quivers made of leather or faux leather, it seems to me that it doesn't matter a bit what they're made of.

Brandon Tuomiko · #15 11-06-2008, 08:58 AM

use a leather quiver that you can put on the tail piece. Ive been looking at one of those.

!!!!! SINCE I MAY BE RESTORING MY 1951 Kay bass!!!! I dont want to scratch it.

NebSgird · #16 11-02-2009, 07:49 PM

k, well, erm, just to respond to the beginning of this thread, think about the quality of the bow/bass middle-schoolers are gonna be using. you think it's really a big deal to stick the bow in the f-hole?

regardless, it it a pretty bad habit to get into, as when you have a nice bow it will scratch, etc. quiver is the way to go.