Double Bass German bow Spiccato

[Dr Rod]

ok, I can see that you have to be able to play legato and that it is the base of many strokes. But I still can't see the legato spiccato connection.
Both techniques have a totally different feel.

please read my #1 rule (and the other ones as well)

I don't think the rest can be done in writing, you need to experiment and work with someone so that you can watch the movements that perhaps cannot be explained with words, also then the teacher will be able to see your movements

 

[Dr Rod]

Both techniques have a totally different feel.

PS: that's where I think you are mistaken, and that's the key to what we are talking about. Once you do spiccato properly and in a controlled manner, it feels amazingly similar, regardless of how short, fast, and high you bounce it.

 

[chicagodoubler]

Naw Rod I think you should just listen to bad advice online, tense up til you get arm and back problems, and hurl the bow at the string in such a method that pitch and tone are essentially nonexistent.



This has been stated before, but in auditions, the committee *will* ask to hear excerpts with varying degrees of articulation/ space between the notes. If the spiccato is not firmly rooted in a comfortable, relaxed legato stroke, achieving this is a sisyphean challenge.


One other worth note... NOT all teachers are clear in explaining or teaching how we create these different articulations, IME, even on a very high level. Yet another reason to check out more than one teacher.

 

[Dr Rod]

Naw Rod I think you should just listen to bad advice online, tense up til you get arm and back problems, and hurl the bow at the string in such a method that pitch and tone are essentially nonexistent.

LOL

This has been stated before, but in auditions, the committee *will* ask to hear excerpts with varying degrees of articulation/ space between the notes. If the spiccato is not firmly rooted in a comfortable, relaxed legato stroke, achieving this is a sisyphean challenge.

preach it brother !

One other worth note... NOT all teachers are clear in explaining or teaching how we create these different articulations, IME, even on a very high level. Yet another reason to check out more than one teacher.

This is another excellent point. I could not find Les Fret`s location, I might know someone in his area.

I learned my bow technique from a student of Hal Robinson, he lives in Cleveland and doesn`t play bass anymore but might be willing to teach. I have heard good things about Brad Opland in Chicago in spite of the fact that he seems to be back to french bow. Bruce Bransby`s and Paul Ellison`s students seem to know how to use the bow so they must be good at teaching those techniques as well.