Double Bass French or German? Choose Your Weapon

[Thumpie]

I learned cello before bass, so it seemed like the simplest thing to stick with French. I've never tried German.

I'm thinking that I should stick with French because I'll probably switch to cello in my old age when I'm living in a hut on some remote Asian island.

 

[koipond]

German here. I tried both and German feels more natural to me.

 

[Thumpie]

German here. I tried both and German feels more natural to me.

Yes. The German feels comfortable very quickly. It's easier to learn. But once you get the hang of the French, it feels just as natural.

 

[Thooom]

My only thought was that with a German frog, you could hold the bow completely with say ring and pinky finger (wrapping around the frog and gripping against the palm), leaving pointer and the bird for plucking, whereas with french, you're pretty much relying on clamping between fingers and thumb, leaving nothing free.

That said, I've never so much as picked up a German bow, so I could very well be talking out of my ass....

Oh, there may be some difference between the actual plucking technique between the two, but you mentioned the switching part. It's physically easier to make the arco/pizz switch (both ways) with the French. The stick just doesn't have to travel as far.

 

[grabBass]

I started with a German bow because I was coming out of a medieval-music group where I played the DB's ancestor, viola da gamba - with an underhand grip.

Now I'm re-learning the DB (thirty years later) and French just feels way more natural to me.

 

[jrankin]

I play French. I find it easier to get more sound and better articulation, but that's probably because I'm used to it. I don't think either is inherently better.

 

[Zojo]

Didn't we start calling them "Freedom Bows"?

 

[csrund]

Played French in H.S. and first two years at college. Switched to German and liked it a bit better. Lapsed 20 years and restarted playing again last fall. Restarted with French; felt more comfortable than German. (I think my gut has gotten too big to cross down to the low side of the instrument with the German!)

 

[basscleff94010]

I am surprised at how strongly some people feel about the choice of bows. I recently played in two workshops, one in Italy and one in Germany. In Italy, I was told that they were happy to see that I didn't use one of those old fashioned, clunky (goffo) German bows.

The next week in Germany, the section leader pointed out that I can't play as powerfully as the other basses, who all use German bows, because I had one of those French bows. (It was also given as the reason for many of my mistakes during rehearsals.) I was even told that the evidence for the superiority of the German bow was how was French and Italian orchestras sound.

I pointed out to both groups that in the orchestra I play in at home in the USA, we have about half German and half French. And both worked fine. It was just a matter of what you learned from you teacher and how it felt for you personally. They didn't buy it.

Its yet another amazing example of how people develop biases based on differences and then try to rationalize those biases.

 

[martin durkin]

I play French bow purely because that's what came with my first bass, and also I played the violin for many years so I have an idea how to use a franco belgian bowhold. My problem is volume. I'm trying to play with minimal pressure on the bow, with my index finger adding a little pressure when I want to change tone, dynamics, or the holy grail of resonant singing tone. I find however, once I start adding pressure it seems to escalate until I'm playing too hard. I want to buy a German bow, as some of the things I'm working on need volume and resonance in the lower register, without playing hard, which I struggle to get at the moment. I know it's going to open a can of worms for me but I'm going to learn both, and when I get my quiver, I'll keep them both at hand! I know it will become a constant obsession- bow tension, rosin, type of hair, speed of bow stroke, weight of bow stroke, distance from bridge, weight and balance of bow, type of wood(pernambuco first choice),- the list goes on. That's why I love it!!!!

 

[Medve]

Do not apply pressure in your quest for volume !!!
1. Arm weight only.
2. Location of the bow.
3. Speed of the bow.
4. Teacher !

 

[M30W]

French all the way! I learned with french and german. However, I feel that the french allows much easier string crossings. I do think though, that it is easier to get more volume with german. But that wasn't a problem for me, so my choice is french.

 

[ricobasso]

...I know it's going to open a can of worms for me but I'm going to learn both, and when I get my quiver, I'll keep them both at hand! ...

Good idea to play both. I've just started using a German bow and it is a useful alternative. If you do it with the right mindset I think it will help prevent bad habits with either type of bow.
One word of warning; with a quiver in the normal position the second bow will obstruct string crossings to the lower strings.

 

[Sera Wohldmann]

When I first started, I tried learning German, thinking, as I foolishly did, that being a Wohldmann I should honor that heritage. But I could never get the hang of the grip, and I lost touch with my teacher. A few years later, I got a cheap French to go with my first bass, and it felt much more comfortable. Then my new teacher played French, so when it came time to upgrade my bow, I stuck with it. Of course, everyone else in my section at City College, all guys, seem to think the German is always better.