Double Bass Pizz to Arco Techniques?

[jbenner913]

What do you do to go from Pizzicato to Arco fast and accurately? The youth orchestra that I play in is playing Hanson's 2nd Symphony, and the Suppe Overture to Poet and Peasant. They both have spots where you have to go from pizz to arco very fast. Do you have any suggestions of how to achieve this without cutting anything out? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Jon

 

[JimGullen]

Greetings!

Do you play French or German? I find that I take much longer making the transition from pizz to arco now that I'm playing German...assuming that I let the bow drop and hang from my pinky.

In fast transitions, I won't "drop" the bow and let it hang. Rather, I rotate my wrist so that it's more palm down and just stick my first finger over the stick and pizz that way. The bow doesn't hang, it's still roughly perpendicular to the strings (I hope this makes sense) and I'm supporting the weight with the rest of my fingers. It's not comfortable for long periods of pizz, but the transition between pizz and arco is faster than I do when I drop the bow and let in hang from my pinky.

Again, I hope my descriptoin makes sense.

Best regards!
Jim

 

[jbenner913]

Primarily I play the French bow. I sometimes will play my German for some solo performances, but I feel that the French bow is my hometown when doing playing in the section.

My main problem is that when I try to go from Pizz to Arco fast, my bow bounces way too much, or I take too long, by trying not to let the bow bounce. Should I try to have a balance between the two, or would that just be another bad habit?

Thanks for your input, Jim. I'll try a similar approach with my French, and see how it works out.

Jon

 

[JimGullen]

Ahhh...the issue is getting your shoulder weight into the string on that first articulation after pizzing....I know EXACTLY what you're talking about.

I didn't have that much trouble when I was playing French with this. I think it's because I would "slow down to go fast". I would make sure that I had weight into the string....and could feel the string "push back"...before I started to draw. This only took an extra fraction of a second but it made all the difference.

As with lots of things bass, practice this slowly and it will eventually become second nature....and fast!

Best regards!

Jim

 

[bejoyous]

With the French bow, just hold the bow normally and pizz with your middle finger until you get a chance to move the bow to your regular pizz hold.

Also, if the section is big enough, you can have a few cut out of the acro notes to play the first pizz notes securely, and a few not play the first pizz notes in order to play the last arco notes accurately. And vice virca.

 

[shostkontrabass]

Also, if the section is big enough, you can have a few cut out of the acro notes to play the first pizz notes securely, and a few not play the first pizz notes in order to play the last arco notes accurately. And vice virca.

I agree. But most of the time if you keep your bow in as close to bowing position as you can while still plucking with your middle finger, you should be able to transition pretty quickly. Just try not to fling your bow......