Double Bass German Bow Overhand For Fast String Crossing Passages?

[damonsmith]

You - and your drummer - are working so hard! It wears me out to watch.

I remember that one as being pretty effortless! No amp at the pool pavilion at Tower Grove park!

 

[Keith Rawlings]

Of course. PRACTICE as well as putting it into practice makes it feel pretty comfortable. A bow made to play one way or the other is going to work better for that purpose, but it can work fine. It is like you do either way for anything willy-nilly. You find certain things that work better and do that.
Since I settled on German bows, German is pretty much home base for me. What I like French better for:
1. Quick changes between pizz & arco
2. A very light, very fast tremelo
3. Extended long tones on the E string (or de-tuned E)

Things I use both for for slightly different results:
1. Spiccato
2. High harmonics

I do like my bows to be balanced with either hold.

I find it awkward to go from arco to pizz with the French hold. I find it easier with the German hold to tuck the stick, turn my palm in for pizz, and point the bow out and down like Slam Stewart and Milt Hinton would do, then pizz with my index and middle finger. It just feels more natural to me.

Do you hook your bow on your ring or pinky fingers when you attempt pizz from a French hold?

 

[damonsmith]

Ring and pinky tucked into the hand. More awkward, maybe, but faster!

I find it awkward to go from arco to pizz with the French hold. I find it easier with the German hold to tuck the stick, turn my palm in for pizz, and point the bow out and down like Slam Stewart and Milt Hinton would do, then pizz with my index and middle finger. It just feels more natural to me.

Do you hook your bow on your ring or pinky fingers when you attempt pizz from a French hold?

 

[Keith Rawlings]

Ring and pinky tucked into the hand. More awkward, maybe, but faster!

Thanks. I need to try that out. I’d love to be able to use both holds and play pizz comfortably.

 

[Ludwig]

If there is no time, you can switch extremely fast from arco to pizz and back with german bow by just turning the hand and using the index finger to pizz. If that works for you may be a matter of the version of german bow hold you are using. If there is time to switch, using the standard 90 degree change gives the best pizz result.
The main point of fast switching is taking care, that the bow stroke is near the frog at time of turning !!!
The arco / pizz change can be done with both german and french bow hold, but for me the change works a little better with the german bow. To use the "wrong" type with the other grip, I really dislike playing german bow with french grip, for me using french bow with german grip works much better. Since I play german bow standing and french bow seated, I have tried both several times. But really best use the bow with the grip it has been designed for.

 

[damonsmith]

Yes, this works for one finger pizz, but not two. French is faster for two finger pizz and back changes. If you are trying to do something at a certain speed it is best to use what works at that speed. What people dislike or like isn't the point the point is what works best for the situation. In any case German bows have had grip material in the overhand area because people have been doing this for years. If your music doesn't call for anything beyond the bow hold you use then there is no reason change holds. If you know both bow holds you may find uses for both.

If there is no time, you can switch extremely fast from arco to pizz and back with german bow by just turning the hand and using the index finger to pizz. If that works for you may be a matter of the version of german bow hold you are using. If there is time to switch, using the standard 90 degree change gives the best pizz result.
The main point of fast switching is taking care, that the bow stroke is near the frog at time of turning !!!
The arco / pizz change can be done with both german and french bow hold, but for me the change works a little better with the german bow. To use the "wrong" type with the other grip, I really dislike playing german bow with french grip, for me using french bow with german grip works much better. Since I play german bow standing and french bow seated, I have tried both several times. But really best use the bow with the grip it has been designed for.

 

[Notaluthier]

Yes, this works for one finger pizz, but not two. French is faster for two finger pizz and back changes. If you are trying to do something at a certain speed it is best to use what works at that speed. What people dislike or like isn't the point the point is what works best for the situation. In any case German bows have had grip material in the overhand area because people have been doing this for years. If your music doesn't call for anything beyond the bow hold you use then there is no reason change holds. If you know both bow holds you may find uses for both.

If I hang my German bow from my pinky finger, I can still pluck with all three fingers.