Double Bass Andrew Anderson Videos and German bow

[SLivinghouse]

I'm primarily a jazz player but am returning to playing classical as well (played in orchestra from elementary school through first two years of college.)

I have watched the Andrew Anderson videos and have found them very informative. However, he only demonstrates French bow technique. Other than the obvious difference of grip, is the technique for bow strokes such as staccato similar for German bow, or a whole different technique?

Thanks,
Steve

 

[MDEbass]

Good question. First of all, in my opinion, these videos don't necessarily show how to use the spiccato stroke on just French bow, but rather just demonstrate the concept of the bouncing of the bow and the movements involved in the stroke. So regardless of which bow you use, this will be a helpful resource.

Now that said, this video is more likely to be more helpful to French players, as he demonstrates it with French. So some things don't totally transfer onto German, like how he compares it to bouncing a basketball or something - for German it doesnt really work like that. Get your teacher to work with you on the specifics, but all I can say is that this video is a good start. Just keep your right hand relaxed and just practice the bouncing the bow on and off the string. Really get used to that motion. Not playing notes or anything, just keep bouncing it on and off the string. He demonstrates that somewhere in the video or something i think.......

Good luck!

 

[Bill Bentgen]

I'm a German bow player and was impressed with the Anderson videos also.

Most of the concepts carry over. If you place the thumb and first 2 fingers on the stick like you do with a pencil, you can apply the "plucking the string thorugh the bow" concept. The exercises with repeated down bows followed by repeated up bows help nail it down.

 

[SLivinghouse]

Thank both of you for your answers. Just didn't want to start doing something that was really wrong. Going to start lessons again in a few weeks.
Thanks,
Steve

 

[chicagodoubler]

A common misconception is that the bow grip itself should dictate the movement of the bow itself... the clicky exercise on the German bow involves movement of the radial bones of the forearm and the use of the fingers and thumb rather than the basketball bounce and first finger. His pointer on the elbow staying more stationary is exactly the same for the German bow.

For the sake of translation please recall that your sound is simply the action of drawing the hair over the string. The basic concepts are the same regardless.

For those interested, Andy does teach privately in Chicago, is a swell guy, and may be able to show you how to win two major auditions in the same city, just as he did....