German bow pizz

Well, let me try and describe this as best I can. From arco, you want to release the grip of your thumb and first two fingers from the stick, and, while letting the bow drop downwards, hook your pinky into the crook of the frog, so that the bow is effectively held between your pinky and ring finger, pointing at the ground. you are now free to pizz with your first two fingers (a nice upside to german bow, in that you can excecute electric bass-style double-finger pizzes while holding the bow.) To return to arco, its a bit of an acrobatic motion, so you're going to have to spend some time practicing going back and forth (I'd use a mirror), you sort of "toss" the bow back up using both your thumb (pressing outward, that is away from the bass) and your fingers. I don't mean like, fling it, just sort of flick it back up into a parallel-to-the-ground position. The trick then is to get your fingers back into a proper bow grip. I'd suggest just practicing going back and forth a bunch of times till it feels comfortable. If you're new to german bow, it might take a while to get used to. Hope that helps, and it's just the way I do it, so don't take it as gospel.

 

You can also keep your grip unchanged and just turn your hand so that you can pluck the string with your index. This way you can play quick arco/pizz changes.

The other suggestion from JayR has the advantage of having 2 fingers free for pizzing so you can play fast runs, and you can also hold the fingerboard with your thumb for added stability.

I would learn both. I personally use both.

 

+1 for Dr Rod's suggestion. That's a cool idea, I'll have to try that. I only use the pinky hook and it works but it takes some gettin used to. Mechanically it's the just like the regular pizz technique, or theres a frog stuck to your palm . Just the same, only different. Yaknowwhatimean?

Also I love having a bow quiver. I've worked out a cool technique of drawing back that last arco note, then in one motion tossing the bow into the quiver while bringing my right hand back to the fingerboard. Pull that off in one fluid motion it looks wicked cool... unless you miss the quiver and your bow goes bouncing across the stage. Then you look like an idiot. "There's such a fine line between clever and stupid."

 

LOL

 

Also the change is much easier, both ways, if the arco stroke is an up-bow near the frog
nick

 

Saw that quote and looked for a Boston address on your post.
You must have had a stop over at Berklee....Dood.