Double Bass Pizzicato with the German bow

[Quinn Roberts]

I have an extreme aversion to extra bibs and bobs. It's just one more thing for me to break or lose, frankly. So no quiver, no clip, no bow hanger. When I put my bass down I do put it under my B and E string.

Second thread hijack :
And how many people clip their bow under their E string when setting the bass down ? I think that's safer than leaving it in the quiver , but I don't generally bother.

Can someone post an example of this? I can't quite picture putting the bow under the strings. Do you mean resting it between the end of the neck under the fingerboard and the bridge?

 

[CaseyVancouver]

Do you mean resting it between the end of the neck under the fingerboard and the bridge?

Yes with the bow tip at the bridge.

Another option is to place the bow with the frog on the bridge. The problem is you (me actually) forget about the bow and grab the bass, usually while talking to the other musicians, causing the bow to fall onto the floor.

 

[oldNewbie]

Yes with the bow tip at the bridge.

Huh, another first. I've always snapped the frog under the string at the end of the fingerboard , tip near the nut .
I'll try it.
Thanks @CaseyVancouver

 

[CaseyVancouver]

Here's the lick that will test whether or not you've got your arco to pizz. moves sorted out:

Yep, that is tricky. I would play the pizz with my thumb and not change my German bow hold.
If playing French I would try adapting to the German hold for this piece. It would work for myself, but a French player may hate it

Also
Regarding the binder clip to hold the bow, I never bring the large binder clip for holding a bow to any rehearsals or performances these days. I can’t count the times someone has turned my music stand to walk by or even move my stand without realizing a bow is hanging on it. At home I keep the clip as low to the floor as possible, in case the bow does fall it does not go far.

 

[Ludwig]

If I have a little time, I too use the bow hanging down from the pinkie. For a very fast switch, I keep the bow basically in playing hold and just turn the hand to point the index finger to the strings to pluck and the bow hair away from the string. The bow is pointing slightly to the front and a little down during plucking with the index finger. Not recommended for long pluck durations, but extremely fast switch. Both techniques work for me playing standing with the german bow, with my style of the german bow hold.

If I play seated, the moves with the german bow to switch between arco and pizz do not work for me at all. I have learned / played cello before double bass and basically use cello technique with a french bow if on a stool. The stool is much lower then the stools normally used by bass players, with a 1/2 or 5/8 bass I use just any stool found at the premises, with a 3/4 bass I put a plastic thing with one side rounded for balancing exercises (fits into a rear pocket of my bass bag) on the normal stool to sit a little higher. Do not like to transport a special bass stool in addition to the bass.

 

[neilG]

Yep, that is tricky. I would play the pizz with my thumb and not change my German bow hold.

I play German. For this I mostly keep my grip and just turn my palm to the strings and use my index finger over the top of the bow.

 

[Karlo Monk]

I like to leave my bow angle the same, turn my wrist and use my middle finger thru the frog to pluck. Rarely encounter anything too fast to keep up and the major pro is I can go back arco almost instantly. The trick is controlling the tip recoil - I added weight at the frog = tip waggle reduction!

 

[koricancowboy]

I play German. For this I mostly keep my grip and just turn my palm to the strings and use my index finger over the top of the bow.

This is what I do. A lot of the videos posted here seemed like extra energy.