Double Bass New to Bowing

[frankyhernandez]

Hi, I've been playing a double bass for almost three years. Now I've been accepted to play in an orchestra. I have great plucking, but now I need to learn bowing techniques. I have two months. I play at a small school group, my teacher is great, bu she has more experience in choir and band instruments than orchestra instruments.

Any tips?!

 

[Andy Mopley]

1. Get a teacher
2. Get a teacher
3. If you can't, watch YouTube (Mr Anderson's clips)
4. Still get a teacher

 

[chuck3]

1. Get a teacher
2. Get a teacher
3. If you can't, watch YouTube (Mr Anderson's clips)
4. Still get a teacher

what Andy said.

Also - get a decent bow. I was really frustrated when I started bowing, but I came to realize that my first (cheap) bow was really bad. I was kinda shocked at what bows cost but it turns out they are worth it.

And rosin is your friend ...

 

[Tom Lane]

I think it takes most folks years to teach themselves to bow competently. But, a good teacher can send you down the right path in a few lessons, maybe as little as two, with a follow up later. By good teacher, though, I mean someone who can actually explain and demonstrate the mechanics of how to use the bow to best effect. There are lots of great acro players who haven't a clue how to explain bowing to a new student, so don't except responses, like, "just keep hacking at the string using all of the bow length and it will get better." That's probably true, but it takes a long time.

 

[MostlyBass]

I'll echo - get a teacher!

 

[Jason Sypher]

It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a person to teach themselves how to bow the upright bass...the word

 

[Huy Nguyen]

I just got a teacher again yesterday. Def get a teacher. My god it's so much easier.