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Double Bass How do you hold your bow?

josiah goldfish

josiah goldfish

Guest
Jan 10, 2012
1,339
289
E.Sussex UK
#1
Hi guys,

I've started playing arco recently, and I'm playing German bow. I was wondering whether anyone would mind posting pictures of how they grip their bow? Apparently there's lots of different methods, but I'm unfamiliar with most of them.

Maybe if we collect up enough photos of different grips we could make the thread a sticky for other beginner bowers, to help establish which method is best for them.

Thanks,
Joe
 
#2
I too started arco thinking German would be best - it looked like the more powerful approach

But, in the last year I started gripping the German bow in a French (overhand) way at the frog because I found that you don't need, even want, 'power', you want control & a light touch draws more sound from the instrument.

I got a couple of older decent French bows & put away the Germans

If you're a serious classical player (I am not) you may want to stay with the style & technique your teacher advises.

Just last week I was watching a YT video of Edgar Meyer playing with Yo Yo Ma (search NPR desktop concerts) - he's a great arco player and he plays totally unorthodox - he chokes up with a 'French' grip but further down the bow almost 3 or 4 inches closer to the tip than the frog

I tried it - it works - very light touch - lots of control

Good luck
 
#3
Oh, and btw I saw Christian McBride in a small 200 seat venue about 6 months ago & he draws the bow similarly - overhand/lightly

In fact he plays a very small short bow - almost looks like a violin or viola bow - not even cello length - gets a nice sound

I think it depends on material when I think about it.

If you're playing orchestral section with big long whole note stuff, German may be preferred.

But for faster more articulate passages or jazz solos, etc you want dexterity
 
#4
Oh, and btw I saw Christian McBride in a small 200 seat venue about 6 months ago & he draws the bow similarly - overhand/lightly

In fact he plays a very small short bow - almost looks like a violin or viola bow - not even cello length - gets a nice sound

I think it depends on material when I think about it.

If you're playing orchestral section with big long whole note stuff, German may be preferred.

But for faster more articulate passages or jazz solos, etc you want dexterity
 
#5
Like this?

Edgar-Meyer-wrap.jpg


I'm playing German styled because I find the french hold uncomfortable. And my teacher plays German as well.

Anyone else?
 

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