Bow technique question

[Dan Thompson]

Hi guys,

I'm hoping someone can help me with a bit of advice. I'm a newcomer to using the bow. My teacher has asked me to prepare the first few exercises of Simandl for our next lesson (the half position ones), but my next lesson is not for a few weeks and I want to make sure I'm practing correctly!

I''ve been working on open strings previously, practicing using the full length of the bow. These exercises are in half notes and even at 50-60 bpm it seems to me that using the whole length of the bow to play a half note doesn't feel right.

Which portion of the bow should I be using? Starting at the frog, and going to the middle then back? Starting at the middle? Or should I be using the whole bow?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Dan Thompson

[mcnaire2004]

Originally Posted by Dan Thompson

Hi guys,

I'm hoping someone can help me with a bit of advice. I'm a newcomer to using the bow. My teacher has asked me to prepare the first few exercises of Simandl for our next lesson (the half position ones), but my next lesson is not for a few weeks and I want to make sure I'm practing correctly!

I''ve been working on open strings previously, practicing using the full length of the bow. These exercises are in half notes and even at 50-60 bpm it seems to me that using the whole length of the bow to play a half note doesn't feel right.

Which portion of the bow should I be using? Starting at the frog, and going to the middle then back? Starting at the middle? Or should I be using the whole bow?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Dan Thompson

Practicing using the whole length of the bow is always a good idea. Otherwise you'll have a semi-tough habbit to break later.

[JimGullen]

Greetings!

You definitely want to be working on using the entire length of the bow. In these exercises, you're looking for a nice clean attack...both on the down-stroke and on the up-stroke (tougher). You're also looking for nice consistent volume througout the entire stroke. No crescendos or decrescendos! As you progress, you'll work on all kinds of bow speeds, generally, the faster the stroke the more sound. It might help to think about trying to pull more sound out of the bass. Fast bow strokes are how you make the bass really shake!

Later, when you're working on slow bow....way out at the tip....you'll long for the days when you were doing full bows! :-)

Hope this helps a little, keep up the good work!

Best regards!
Jim

[jallenbass]

Originally Posted by mcnaire2004

Practicing using the whole length of the bow is always a good idea. Otherwise you'll have a semi-tough habbit to break later.

Use the amount of bow that each note requires to get a good sound. The lower strings will most likely require less bow. Using less than the whole bow is not a bad habit (habbit). Don't go for volume right now. Right hand comfort is much more important.

[Dan Thompson]

That's great. thanks for the advice guys. I'll try to get those full bows happening!

Dan

[mcnaire2004]

Originally Posted by jallenbass

Use the amount of bow that each note requires to get a good sound. The lower strings will most likely require less bow. Using less than the whole bow is not a bad habit (habbit). Don't go for volume right now. Right hand comfort is much more important.

Using more bow does not necessarily generate more sound. I am not saying from frog to tip, but using 80% of the bow on low (and high) notes is a good idea. If you do not start early then you will get a bad habit of not using enough bow. It isn't exactly something that is 100% do all the time, but it is a good idea (especially starting out) to get a full bow into your notes, also practicing slow bow is good to. Though this doesn't get as much bow into the notes, it gets enough. I see where you are coming from, but I think we are thinking of two related/different ( I know it's a paradox) types of things.

[Eli_Upright12]

It sounds like the point of the exercise is to focus on tone, and one way to get good tone is use of lots of bow, make sure that your bow isnt drifting up or down, because that really is a bad habit and hard to correct. Just make sure that the bow is parallel to the string, playing in front of a mirror is a good practice tool. And just try to get the best tone out of the notes as you can.

[dblbass]

It all depends on your bow placement in my opinion. if your playing half notes and it sounds like crap the move the bow either towards or away from the bridge unitl it sounds good. The closer to the bridge you go the slower your bow should be traveling. Also what style bow you play is an important factor as to your bow technique (obviously... but let me explain). If you're playing french bow then the overall length from your shoulder to your bow is longer than if your playing german. This is something to watch out for. French bow will be easier to reach the bridge with and in most cases requires a little more bend in your arm that german bow does. Good luck and practise in front of mirror !

[thedbassist]

Here are some good tips: 1. Do not go closer to the bridge for a louder sound or closer(or above) the fingerboard for a quieter sound. 2. Make sure to practice using straight bows 3. To get louder, use the weight of the arm to create a louder sound, not pressure by using force, it diminishes the sound. Just a few tips I wish I had when I started playing bass. If you have any questions, you can pm me.

[jallenbass]

Originally Posted by thedbassist

Here are some good tips: 1. Do not go closer to the bridge for a louder sound or closer(or above) the fingerboard for a quieter sound. 2. Make sure to practice using straight bows 3. To get louder, use the weight of the arm to create a louder sound, not pressure by using force, it diminishes the sound. Just a few tips I wish I had when I started playing bass. If you have any questions, you can pm me.

If you use more arm weight to increase your volume then you have to either use a faster bow speed and/or move closer to the bridge. Otherwise the sound will get squashed even with proper use of arm weight.

[thedbassist]

Yeah, I forgot to add that part, sorry about that, hes right too.