german bow - speed, angle, position, arm weight

[bass-me-up]

i've been playing double bass (jazz) and electric bassguitar for most of my life. now that i turned 37 my growing interest in classical music made me take my first classical bass lessons. i started in march this year using the simandl book and etudes. i'm satisfied with what my teacher is teaching me but i still have problems with the bowing technique.

now here's what I'm struggeling with:

- sound: i try to avoid using pressure when bowing. basically i just apply a little pressure with my thumb at the beginning of a note. trying to release the weight right after the string vibrates. this is ok on slow bows but in faster passages it always starts scratching and i don't get the full bottom sound.

-> does anybody know of any exercises i could do to get the right feeling and coordination for my bowing hand? how about practicing it without using the bass. i.e. while driving my car or sitting at the computer :-)

i own a number of method books on this subject (streicher, wolf,..). and i think i basically know the theory of how to do it. it's more a matter of trying to make it feel natural.

am i beeing to impatient? it's only been 3 months since i started with the bow.

any help is more than welcome.

cheers

[Cory Palmer]

Try to always play with the bow on a harmonic. Mainly the octave and fifth harmonics. The string will speak right away if you are on a harmonic.

I used the Fred Zimmerman Contemporary Concept of Bowing Technique book to help develop my bow technique. I just tried to find it on Lemur so I could post a link to it but they seem to not have it on their site anymore.