The importance of perpendicular bowing

padmavyuha · #1 10-07-2009, 01:45 AM

Okay, so I've just got my first German bow - a Chinese 4/4 carbon fibre one I got 2nd hand off eBay, which seems very well put together. The hair spread on it is also wider than on my French - is that normal for German bows?

Because of my slightly mutant/short right arm, I've got two choices now: either play with the bass up higher than normal (and thereby risk left shoulder problems) or play arco with the bow slanting down a bit towards the tip (or risk bending forward to keep the bow perpendicular to the strings).

So my question: just how important is the perpendicularity of the bow relative to the strings? I assume, since everyone teaches it that way, that there's a tonal/control gain from 'playing straight'? What will I lose by playing at a shallow angle, and what problems am I likely to encounter if instead, I have the bass higher up relative to my left hand/shoulder?

I'll certainly be checking this out with my teacher too, but I wanted a comprehensive view on this.

*edit* oops, should this be under one of the 'technique' forums instead? Sorry.

JtheJazzMan · #2 10-07-2009, 02:24 AM

Yes, must be perpendicular.

For maximum grip and grab when the string is stationary it needs to be at a right angle.

Also try bowing a note high up the fingerboard perpendicular, then at an angle. Sound like killing kittens?

I think you should be exploring other ways to hold the bass. eg:

Straight endpin/bass straight up or on an angle

Bent endpin standing up or sitting down

I think you should be able to get the bass into a suitable position

padmavyuha · #3 10-07-2009, 03:36 AM

Thanks, I'll do some experimenting. I get what you're saying about the reason for the importance of the right-angle. In the end I may have to find a compromise, but like you say, there are a lot of permutations in instrument position alone that may help.

CT DB · #4 10-07-2009, 09:47 AM

I would say that the height and positioning of the bass are more important for how they relate to the position of the bow than the left hand.

JoeyNaeger · #5 10-07-2009, 11:41 AM

If you watch Gary Karr, his bow isn't always perpendicular, but he keeps the hair in the same part of string. This is a common problem with german bow playing, so perhaps just see if you can control where the hair is even when bowing at an angle. The cleanest sound will still come from being perpendicular though. At some point in your playing career, it might be worth experimenting with the french bow as it allows to reach further than the german bow.

padmavyuha · #6 10-07-2009, 12:30 PM

Thanks - the French bow (or to be more accurate, the French grip) isn't an option for me, as my right hand is missing a few muscles. Up until today I've been using a 4/4 French bow with a German grip, as that's what I had - the German bow is much easier to hold this way, since it's designed for it.

This is why I was after a German bow with a good reach - and the one I've got has the same hair length as my French bow. Of course, playing 'underarm' does mean the bow is half-a-hand's length closer to me than if I were using the French grip, so I'm experimenting with having the bass up higher, and so far that seems to work - I can get more-or-less perpendicular on all 4 strings this way. Since part of the problem is that I have a long torso, this also puts my left arm/shoulder up higher, so the fingerboard isn't too far up compared to the optimal height. I'm sat on a stool anyway, as it's too tricky for me to play standing up (plus the ceiling's low here...) so keeping the bass fairly upright and up on a high spike setting seems to be the best option.

It's great having the new strings on - Velvet Blues - I had no idea that the ones my bass arrived with were actually supertanker hawsers - these are hugely easier to press down (being both thinner and with a more flexible synthetic gut core), so much less strain on my left hand - and they've got at least 3x the sustain of the old strings. Arco at the moment sounds rather metallic, what with my inexperience, a relatively unrosined new bow, and very shiny strings!

robobass · #7 10-07-2009, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeyNaeger

If you watch Gary Karr, his bow isn't always perpendicular, but he keeps the hair in the same part of string. This is a common problem with german bow playing, so perhaps just see if you can control where the hair is even when bowing at an angle. The cleanest sound will still come from being perpendicular though. At some point in your playing career, it might be worth experimenting with the french bow as it allows to reach further than the german bow.

+1. It's one of those things which is preached more than practiced. I think it's really important to be as perpendicular as possible, and to keep the bow down near the bridge, but you see lot's of great players who simply don't play this way.

padmavyuha · #8 10-07-2009, 04:46 PM

Workin' on it... very weird having started to learn on my Messina before I got it pimped, and now with new adjustable bridge, new bassbar, new endpin, new strings - it's a completely different instrument.

JtheJazzMan · #9 10-07-2009, 06:22 PM

Also, the kind of strings will determine how forgiving the tone is. I found belcantos to be forgiving when it came to the bow being at an odd angle, but if youre using spiros.....prepare for pain.

JtheJazzMan · #10 10-07-2009, 07:19 PM

Oh, and also how much hair you like to put on the bow. ie, if you play with full flat hair on the strings then its important to be at a right angle.

Makes sense when you think about the contact patch on the strings

Andrew McGregor · #11 10-11-2009, 12:00 AM

So, while it is not absolutely essential to play with the bow perpendicular all the time, especially if you're playing quietly, and especially with German bow, it IS essential to be ABLE to play with the bow perpendicular when you choose to. So, you're taking the right tack, setting up your posture etc. mostly with the bow in mind.