German bow technique q.

[Andy Mopley]

hopefully in correct forum...any tips on how to improve bowing the F#, F and E notes on the E string on a 4 string bass? I play French but have tried to also expand technique with German and find the bowing of above mentioned notes quite awkard...

Thanks for reading!

[MaxJohnson]

Ackward because of balance? If so, make sure the bass is leaning back onto you, you may need to re-examine how you balance the instrument. You should hardly need to hold it up, and therefor those notes should be quite easy to play.
Ackward because you're clocking the C bout of your bass or leg? Your bass may have a low neck projection angle (or whatever that term should be), and it just may be a hard bass to play on the E string on. If you're hitting your leg however, it's again a matter of how you are standing/balancing.

[Andy Mopley]

Thanks Max, I think ackward because of balance, I play standing up (should have specified) and do realize now that I "twirl" the DB a bit.
Interested in your comment about low neck projection angle, can you actually physicaly measure, and if so, is it also in relation to body stance?

[MaxJohnson]

You can generally tell if it's almost ergonomically impossible to play the E string without banging into the body. As someone who stands as well, it takes a bunch of getting used to to see where the bass can balance on you. Every human and instrument are different, so you have to find a place where you can play all of the notes (or at least close to it). As someone who's not tall, I used to do alot of reaching, but Mark Dresser keyed me into alot of things that you can do to balance the instrument better. Think of your pelvis as a hinge to get to different areas of the instrument. But if you can't access the E string with the bow, you should rotate slightly more towards the back of the instrument. Try resting the back E side corner near the crotch region.

[Andy Mopley]

OK, let me expriment with that, Max, much appreciated!