My school was closed for labor day, so I couldn't asked my teacher about holding the french bow. Am I holding right?
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Double Bass Am I Holding This Bow Properly?
- Thread starter Donald Thompson
- Start date
No, that almost looks like a violin bow hold. There are variations, but for a traditional French bow grip, you usually want your thumb just to the left of the frog.
It would probably be better just to wait until you get face-to-face with your teacher so he can make sure you're doing it right than to have to unlearn bad habits.
It would probably be better just to wait until you get face-to-face with your teacher so he can make sure you're doing it right than to have to unlearn bad habits.
- Jul 28, 2009
- 387
- 314
- Disclosures
- Is not compensated for endorsements. Does not sell for profit.
Personal preference. Look up Rabbath who does a great job proving videos in his “Art of the Bow.” Or you could just wait to see your teacher since you have one.
There tends to be some variety in the way people hold the bow. This is because of physiological differences and also differences in the bows.
Your bow shaft seems to fall across the first knuckles of your fingers. I can't say whether this is right or wrong, but my bow shaft falls over the second knuckles.
This means I hold the bow a bit deeper in my hand, and my middle finger does not hook on the frog.
I think my grip is fairly similar to this:
This link should open up various images, so you can see some of the variety:
french bass bow hold - Google Search
Your bow shaft seems to fall across the first knuckles of your fingers. I can't say whether this is right or wrong, but my bow shaft falls over the second knuckles.
This means I hold the bow a bit deeper in my hand, and my middle finger does not hook on the frog.
I think my grip is fairly similar to this:
This link should open up various images, so you can see some of the variety:
french bass bow hold - Google Search
Last edited:
I hope I can ask him, he's more interested on focusing on pizz technique for jazz work.
If he completely ignores arco, I would recommend taking a few lessons with a "classical" instructor as well. He should be able to point you in the right direction and to give you a sense of how everything should feel. From there you will have a good basic technical foundation for jazz or whatever else you want to do.
- Jul 28, 2009
- 387
- 314
- Disclosures
- Is not compensated for endorsements. Does not sell for profit.
Bad habits are hard to unlearn. With arco, it's especially true. Add to that since hands vary so much from person to person, a good instructor who understands that will be a worthwhile investment. My bow hold will not work for the next person and that person's will not work for me. The mechanics are the same but the hold will need to be adjusted to make it comfortable and natural and for it to still follow the same principle. If it's not natural, it will lead to injury and frustration. I've met too many players who said that bowing is just not their thing, but it turns out that their technique made it impossible for them to ever bow well. They didn't understand the mechanics because no one taught them that.
Yes, I'm going to plug him again: Rabbath.
Yes, I'm going to plug him again: Rabbath.
to your question: No that is not proper.
I can't see how you can get any weight into the strings with that hold.
the thumb is the fulcrum that the bow will pivot on, the rest of the hand supplies the weight:
There are many you tube videos and images that show how to build a bow hold. (teacher obviously is best)
The best advise I got was to place the bow hair flat on any string, and try to wiggle the string from side to side without actually playing it.
Feel how much weight it takes to move the string, that weight should come from your whole arm and shoulder not your hand.
do this at the frog and then play to the tip, then repeat from tip to frog on each string, the hold that allows you move the string with arm weight and the least discomfort in your hand is your bow hold.
I can't see how you can get any weight into the strings with that hold.
the thumb is the fulcrum that the bow will pivot on, the rest of the hand supplies the weight:
There are many you tube videos and images that show how to build a bow hold. (teacher obviously is best)
The best advise I got was to place the bow hair flat on any string, and try to wiggle the string from side to side without actually playing it.
Feel how much weight it takes to move the string, that weight should come from your whole arm and shoulder not your hand.
do this at the frog and then play to the tip, then repeat from tip to frog on each string, the hold that allows you move the string with arm weight and the least discomfort in your hand is your bow hold.
- Jul 28, 2009
- 387
- 314
- Disclosures
- Is not compensated for endorsements. Does not sell for profit.
His videos are a great resource. It’s not just your run of a mill lesson because there are videos from all different angles along with biomechanics. I find myself rewatching them every so often and am still gaining insight and or as reminders. The price isn’t much more than what it would cost for a lesson.
There are a few variations in French bow hold, but there are also common fundamentals.
I would advise you to be very careful how you start and again I recommend a good French bow professional.
I don't know where you got the hold above, but it certainly isn't conventional.
For years I held a bass bow like a violin bow as I was taught by a jazzer.
It limited my playing especially with regard to volume, speed and articulation. It took years to unlearn.
I would advise you to be very careful how you start and again I recommend a good French bow professional.
I don't know where you got the hold above, but it certainly isn't conventional.
For years I held a bass bow like a violin bow as I was taught by a jazzer.
It limited my playing especially with regard to volume, speed and articulation. It took years to unlearn.
