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Double Bass Fiddle-style with a German bow?

Krikcet

Krikcet

Jun 1, 2016
75
84
34
Auburn, NY
#1
I'm a big fan of players like Ethan Jodziewicz, Paul Kowert, and Edgar Meyer who are able to reproduce a trad/fiddle-style with their bowing. I've also always played with a German grip. Are there any examples of similar players, especially any that use a German grip?

Thanks!
 
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#10
I've always used a german bow and find it very amenable to fiddle style bowing whether it be oldtime, bluegrass or irish. I realize I don't have any recent videos to show but there are some old ones still on youtube...not my best playing but good enough to show german works. What kinds of tunes are you wanting to play?

 
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#11
Jason Sypher said:
I've always used a german bow and find it very amenable to fiddle style bowing whether it be oldtime, bluegrass or irish. I realize I don't have any recent videos to show but there are probably some old ones still up on youtube somewhere. What kinds of tunes are you wanting to play?
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I've been working on a couple Irish jigs like Tenpenny Bit. I've just been trying to get the jig feel as a starting point, but I'd really like to learn some of the embellishments, etc.

I'm certainly not exclusively interested in Irish music, but I thought that was a decent place to get started. I'll probably be learning Ashokan Farewell for an upcoming gig, as well as a Driftwood tune whose fiddle solo I'd like to cop.

I've definitely come across some of your videos and they're very inspiring!
 
#12
Doing a lot of fiddle tunes lately, but doing so with pizz using alternating RH fingering,... I'm practicing them arco (French bow) also, but not anywhere near ready for bowing them in public yet...

bobsax said:
Going through all the Bluegrass threads for string recommendations. Love my Eurosonic whites but considering Helicores hybrid. Because I may want to learn to bow at some point and the Euros aren’t supposed to be good for bowing?
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I'm using SBW Deluxe "Dirty Guts" fattest 4-string set (.170", .155", .130", .105"). Probably as close to plain gut in tone, volume, bow-ability, feel and look, as available in synthetic strings. Very thick, very old-school plain gut sound. They move a lot of air and they bloom.
 
#13
Krikcet said:
I've been working on a couple Irish jigs like Tenpenny Bit. I've just been trying to get the jig feel as a starting point, but I'd really like to learn some of the embellishments, etc.

I'm certainly not exclusively interested in Irish music, but I thought that was a decent place to get started. I'll probably be learning Ashokan Farewell for an upcoming gig, as well as a Driftwood tune whose fiddle solo I'd like to cop.

I've definitely come across some of your videos and they're very inspiring!
Click to expand...

There are going to be irish jigs that lay nicely on the bass and others that don't. There are also common tunes that many people will know that might be better suited to a small repertoire. Check out these and perhaps you will find something that you like:

The Cliffs of Mohor (A)
My Darlings Asleep (D)
Out on the Ocean (G)
Seanamhac Tube Station (Gm) - John Carty
 
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#15
It seems that most If not all of the older jazz players(Stewart, Chambers, etc.) who did arco solos played German bow. I would think the feel of swing they got would apply as well to fiddle tunes.
 

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