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Double Bass Sound Differnces Between German And French?

N

Nami

Oct 14, 2005
146
0
36
Israel
#1
Hi guys,
I'm a fresh Double Bassist and i play French bow.
I just love playing the bass but i wanted to ask,
Is there any difference between the sound you make with a French bow and German bow?
I know how to hold both and i can switch my bow now...
But i haven't noticed anything different in the sound...
Am I missing something?
:help:

Thanks,
Gal.
 
#2
I have found that both types make some things easier.

It is easier to make tons of sound with a German bow and it is easier to have clean articulations with the French bow. However, these benefits don't mean you should feel one is superior. Professionals who play French can get lots of sound and professionals who play German can get clean articulations.
IMHO you should choose which one feel right to you and have a little experience with the other hold. Some colleges even require a semester with he other hold because its good to know both.
 
#4
The most important thing is to try both see which you like better because for begininers you want to refine your skills on one perferably, but make sure it's the one that feels most comfterble.

I myself never transitioned from violin like alot of bassists so playing French felt awkward, while German felt strong and like a firm handshake which came alot more natural. But there are pleanty of Good bass players for both, I just happen to stick with Germans.
 
#6
Everything else aside, a big plus side to playing German, in my opinion, is it's much easier on your right arm and much less likely to result in unnecessary tension in your playing. I've known a lot of french bow players who have developed tendonitis in their right arm, which seems to be a very rare problem among german bow players. It just means you have to be vigilant about keeping your arm relaxed and stretching/warming up properly so you dont get to the point where you hurt yourself. That's the only really significant difference that I can think of that hasnt yet been mentioned.
 
#8
I've noticed some very definite differences (sp?), so why try to be politically correct in the face of what's obvious, even to me?
German bow is brighter, harsher, less able to sustain and generally sounds thinner. For the knee-jerk reactionaries among you saying "the Berlin Bass section is the greatest ever" you have not heard them live, in their hall like I have. The sound is thin, amazingly so. As for Vienna, I've been there too and yes the bass section sounds good (with the bows see-sawing all over the place, a feat in itself) but a c-clarinet, rusty trombone and tamborine trio would sound like music of the angles in that hall.
The clear, smooth, round sound of the French bow really has no peer.
PS: If you know what you're doing,switching to pizzacato (sp) is just as easy on French.
 
#10
The reason I am asking is that I have an old French bow that came with the bass. It needs rehaired, and I was wondering if I should stick with the White hair (which is what is currently on the bow), or if it would make much of a difference using black hair. I was also thinking of obtaining a German bow, but if the general conscencis (sp?) is that German sounds thin, then I will just stick with the French.
 
#11
You can get the same type of sound from both French and German bow. It's easier to be articulate with a German bow. With French bow it can be easier to get a fuller sound but unless you have a good French bow getting good articulation can be difficult.

With either bow what matters is that you have a teacher that knows how to teach that bow. They each have their tendencies but a good teacher will show you how to get a desirable sound on which ever one you are using.
 
#12
Compare Bass section sound between Berlin Phil and Philedelphia - there is a marked diference bewteen the sound of a German and French bow player witrhout question. Neither is superior - just different. The use of the wrist (major and minor axis) and the resulting postion of the elbow plays a huge role in bow changes and string crossings. I have heard players talk about how someone with a longer than average arm usually has less problems with tension on French Bow where players with shorter than average arms do better on German. Having learned both and choosing German is a personal decision of mine. John Hood of Philedelphia, a fabulous player, is a die hard french bow player with a healthy respect of the german bow - he believes you can wrap more hair around the string with german bow than french and has incorporated that concept into his playing. Enjoy the process with the freedom of choice.
 
#13
Bas-ddwblwr said:
French is best all round, particularly for fast passages.
Click to expand...

Maybe should tell Gary Karr or Ludwig Streicher that! Also have you seen this video :D Anyhow I may be inclined to agree that there are tonal differences between the two bows, but as far as one being more likely to yield swift passages I think that to be a bit ridiculous. I think that notion is carried over from young orchestra teachers who are to lazy to learn about german bow technique as it differs so much from violin/viola/cello technique. IMHO.
 
#15
I'm gonna go out here on a big limb and suggest that it really doesnt make as much of a difference as people make it out to be. Honestly, this may be a bit of an overstatement, but I think bow choice ends up affecting your playing about as much as your choice of strings. Some things are more easily facilitated on the different bows, some things are more difficult, but honestly, all it means is you have to work a little bit harder to make up in the areas your bow is "weak" in. It's not like, religion or anything, people.

Unless you ask a German dude.
 
#16
Having converted to German a year and a half ago at the beginning of my sophomore year, I would say that regardless of which bow you choose, you're going to experience growing pains. Personally I find it easier to pull a thicker sound with less effort on german bow. That said, spicatto is a little more taxing. That could be credited to poor french technique on my part. Either way, the goal is to achieve mastery (did I make that word up?) of your bow choice.
 
#17
It's best not to form an opinion from the posts on this board. You're going to have to ask the right people to get the answer to your question because a lot of people, even on the professonal level, have unfounded biases that creep into their opinions and quite frankly most people have not studied both the French and German bows with the highest quality teachers. I find it hard to believe someone when they say that one bow is better when they have never studied the other and are unable to use it at all. I suppose it's more convenient to have opinions about things you don't know about since it requires very little effort.
 
#19
You know what REALLY makes this whole discussion
rather absurd... its thinking that talking about some
abstract thing 'a french bow' or 'a german bow' makes
any kind of sense.

I have compared a few french bows that were owned
by friends on my bass, and just that makes TONS of
difference in the sound.

Secondly, what is 'good' to one is not to another, my
friend really likes the sound of one of his bows on my
bass, when i listen I think it is harsher and less pleasing
even if its louder than my bow.

So we have these kinds of variations multiplied by all
the parties that hold forth here, and what do we really
have?? :)
 

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