Double Bass German bow in Tango

[jeff_nc]

Any tango players out there? I am playing in a tango orchestra and I am a German bow player. However, search as I might, I have never seen a video of a genuine Argentinian tango bassist playing with a German bow.

Now I'm wondering if I am at a disadvantage trying to do this music with a German bow. If you are not familiar with tango bass parts, they are very percussive.

Here's an example:

http://youtu.be/ZpWDoopNLhY

 

[mdcbass]

Olé Guapa - Spanish Tango - YouTube

 

[notabene]

Seems to me the same deal as any other arco situation. There are advantages to both. The forcefulness of the German seems plus in tango. I've played tango, and since I play German, I don't know any better.

 

[Christopher]

Not sure if this is a "genuine Argentinian tango bassist" -- but I like her performance!

Contrabajisimo (a. piazzolla) Hoock/Artman/Nussbaum - YouTube

 

[TroyK]

I'm no expert, but I was down there a few years ago and spent some time with some tango musicians. They were amused that I played German bow and told me (as I observed) that tango bassists always play French.

I'm sure there are exceptions, but that's the word on the street in Barracas, anyway.