Double Bass Does this look correct to you?

[Andy Mopley]

http://books.google.com.au/books?id...rom arco to pizzicato for double bass&f=false

The thumb for the French bow hold is very straight, always thought it had to be bent? Some of the other postures shown also don't seem very "natural", with the spine bending? I guess there is a lot of stuff out there, some better than other, but I I had read some good things about this particular text, so I was a little surprised at the pictures..

Came across it while searching for best way to switch from bowing to pizzicato, using German bow, so any input / exercises suggested is appreciated.

Thanks for reading!

 

[neilG]

I lower the bow down onto my pinkie, freeing the hand for pizz. Then flip it back up for arco. Practice it slowly away from the bass at first.
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[PaulCannon]

It looks a little uncomfortable, though not too far off the mark. I haven't read it, but I'd imagine that book is an excellent reflection of mid-20th Century bass technique. When did it come out, 1970?

Warren Benfield would have been part of the post-war generation of bassists, along with guys like David Walter, Homer Mensch, and Stuart Sankey. He taught Hal Robinson and Jeff Bradetich, and I want to say Paul Ellison worked with him for a stretch back in the 60's.

 

[Andy Mopley]

Thanks guys! Great pic, Neil, it is helpful.

 

[Carl Hillman]

The pic in NeilG's post is generally the way I do it, but (disclaimer) I never had any formal instruction about exactly how to do it.

What I've found, though, is that sometimes there isn't enough time to switch back and forth to this grip. This problem has come up in some parts for shows I've played over the years.

The two possible solutions to quick pizz notes in the middle of arco passages I use are either, keeping the basic grip on the bow, dropping the tip a bit, and rotating the wrist so that my index finger can pluck a note, or maintaining the grip and plucking with the third finger by extending it towad the string through the space between the stick and the hair of the bow.

 

[neilG]

^^Yes, for quick changes, that's the way I do it too. The only trick is not smacking your bridge when you put the bow back in position for arco.

 

[David Potts]

Andy, I pulled out my old copy (1973) of the Art of Double Bass Playing by Warren Benfield and James Seay Dean Jnr, published by Summy-Birchard Co.

The duplication of shots would appear to be showing shapes at each end of the bow stroke. Figures 1 and 2 show a pretty good relationship between right arm and bow hold, with the hand turning in siightly on the index finger. The bow hold changes shape slightly at each end of the bow, indicating that his hold is flexible and sensitive. Other shots show his hand flatter on the stick, with more of his pinkie hooked over (I would prefer the hand to turn in a little more with less pinkie over in order to line up the elbow bending/straightening with the bow direction). Yes, the thumb could have a longer bend, to keep the large muscles at its base relaxed and flexible, but the bow could still move slightly in the fingers and the hold could still be sensitive to the drag of the hair on the strings.

All this aside I was reminded that this book is still available,relatively small and not expensive. It contains a lot of wisdom from a wise old owl, often in the form of short sentences that encourage you to think and observe. Well worth having IMO.

Cheers, DP

 

[gerry grable]

Andy, I pulled out my old copy (1973) of the Art of Double Bass Playing by Warren Benfield and James Seay Dean Jnr, published by Summy-Birchard Co.

The duplication of shots would appear to be showing shapes at each end of the bow stroke. Figures 1 and 2 show a pretty good relationship between right arm and bow hold, with the hand turning in siightly on the index finger. The bow hold changes shape slightly at each end of the bow, indicating that his hold is flexible and sensitive. Other shots show his hand flatter on the stick, with more of his pinkie hooked over (I would prefer the hand to turn in a little more with less pinkie over in order to line up the elbow bending/straightening with the bow direction). Yes, the thumb could have a longer bend, to keep the large muscles at its base relaxed and flexible, but the bow could still move slightly in the fingers and the hold could still be sensitive to the drag of the hair on the strings.

All this aside I was reminded that this book is still available,relatively small and not expensive. It contains a lot of wisdom from a wise old owl, often in the form of short sentences that encourage you to think and observe. Well worth having IMO.

Cheers, DP

David,
I took your advice. The book sounds interesting, and how can I ignore another wise old owl like you? I ordered it from Walmart for $6.33 (U.S.) with free pick-up at my local store! How can you beat that?
Thanks for the tip, David.