bowing 'thumb'

dodgy_ian · #1 06-19-2007, 03:39 AM

So, during practise I'm finding my thumb on my bowing hand (French style) straightening up...I've been working for about a year on keepin my hand relaxed and thumb bent and all of a sudden I realise its straightening up again and tensing up my hand a lot. It could be because I'm trying to increase my volume on the instrument...

Any ideas or exercises I could use to keep that thumb bent and hand loose?

Thanks!

mcnaire2004 · #2 06-19-2007, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dodgy_ian

So, during practise I'm finding my thumb on my bowing hand (French style) straightening up...I've been working for about a year on keepin my hand relaxed and thumb bent and all of a sudden I realise its straightening up again and tensing up my hand a lot. It could be because I'm trying to increase my volume on the instrument...

Any ideas or exercises I could use to keep that thumb bent and hand loose?

Thanks!

That just hit me myself. But, if you just focus on relaxing your hand it will get better.

lloccmttocs · #3 06-19-2007, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dodgy_ian

So, during practise I'm finding my thumb on my bowing hand (French style) straightening up...I've been working for about a year on keepin my hand relaxed and thumb bent and all of a sudden I realise its straightening up again and tensing up my hand a lot. It could be because I'm trying to increase my volume on the instrument...

Any ideas or exercises I could use to keep that thumb bent and hand loose?

Thanks!

My teacher told me one thing to do, he said "It's all about minimalism, it should be bent but try and bend it as minimal as possible, that will make a more relaxed hand and inturn a better sound."

bassman1489 · #4 06-19-2007, 01:01 PM

I've heard that a rubber or latex grip (AKA bow condom) can help to relieve tension.

Maybe you could try doing some slow bow drills? Do them at a comfortable volume, making sure your thumb is straight and your hand is relaxed. Don't worry about playing loudly. The more relaxed weight you can get into the string, the louder you will get in time.

sibass89 · #5 06-19-2007, 02:29 PM

The key to volume is not pressure, it is weight. If you squeeze you will in turn make your sound softer. Keep your whole body relaxed, and then relax the natural weight of your body and natural force of your muscles into the string.

Take any bow exercise and start it with a mf dynamic. Gradually, relax your arm weight into the string and pull horizontally with your fingers and your sound will get bigger and more resonant.

The actual hold and the fingers have little to do with dynamic of your sound. Draw your sound with your arm. It is like throwing a Frisbee. The fingers and hand are the last part of the movement, and only follow your arm.

Eli_Upright12 · #6 06-19-2007, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcnaire2004

That just hit me myself. But, if you just focus on relaxing your hand it will get better.

kind of funny if you think about it but it really does work

MonetBass · #7 06-19-2007, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sibass89

The key to volume is not pressure, it is weight. If you squeeze you will in turn make your sound softer. Keep your whole body relaxed, and then relax the natural weight of your body and natural force of your muscles into the string.

+1. I went through the same thing. My teacher showed me how to use the weight of the bow arm to increase pressure. The natural tendency is to push down on the bow, which tenses the hand.