Hello everyone. I'm primarily a pizz player but have really wanted to get into more arco practice and maybe performance. That said, my thumb aches at the joint to my hand using my French bow if I practice with it. Can anyone provide insight as to why this might be happening and how I can avoid it? Thanks.
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Double Bass Thumb Pain After Using Bow
- Thread starter eriksd
- Start date
Check this out:
This vid is great, as is the Patrick Nehr one- but no video is going to do as good a job at helping you as a real live teacher person- in person!
Take a few lessons with a skilled arco player, it will go a long way I promise!
Above all, don't get discouraged! Keep at it, but don't hurt yourself in the process.
Joe
This vid is great, as is the Patrick Nehr one- but no video is going to do as good a job at helping you as a real live teacher person- in person!
Take a few lessons with a skilled arco player, it will go a long way I promise!
Above all, don't get discouraged! Keep at it, but don't hurt yourself in the process.
Joe
- May 30, 2000
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Yup! You hold it just firmly enough that it doesn't fall out of your grip- which isn't very firm when the bow is on the string. Honestly, using the word "firm" is almost going too far...it's like your hand takes shape around the bow...it's difficult to explain.
Someone should be able to knock the bow from your hold with a slight jolt...this is just an example though- please don't let anyone knock you bow out of your hand, and certainly don't let it hit the floor!
Another piece of advice: NEVER put your bow on a chair! People sit on chairs- and if you get into the habit of puting your bow on one, someday, somewhere, someone WILL sit on it! Even if you have a fiberglas or carbon fiber bow- don't do it!
Joe
I have the same problem, but mostly on staccato passages. But from reading the other posts, maybe more rosin is the answer. I use Kolstein soft and sometimes it gets a little thick-sounding if I put too much on. I used to over-rosin the bow so I've been trying to use as little as possible. It seemed to work fine but I'll try adding more rosin.
Respectfully, it's prolly not an issue of not enough rosin- go ahead and give it a try, it won't hurt anything (but it could be messy
). If you get too too much on your bow hair, just play it out.Lots of people use too much rosin, like, waaaaaaay too much. I know I did, and maybe even still do! I remember "back in the day" thinking that if there was any kind of problem, more rosin would prolly fix it!
How often do you re-hair your bow? Fresh hair is key! You should rehair at least once a year, but having it done twice a year or even more often is a good idea, especially if you play a lot.
Also, make sure that you go to a busy shop- a place that turns over LOTS of hair. Some shops will have hair that is less than ideal hanging around...and a bad shop will have no qualms with passing it on to you!
Keep sawin'!
Joe
Yeah... Re-Hairing the bow...Good idea! I bought the bow (finale) last December and haven't rehaired it since. I bow at least an hour a day so it's probably way overdue. I guess bow maintenance is important. I got lessons coming up soon so thatll iron out any kinks in my own playing.
Many bows in lower price points (say around 1k or so and under) come with mediocre or bad hair on them. I know it sounds kinda goofy, but it's a good idea to re-hair a bow right after you buy it! That way you know you have good, fresh hair and you can start to explore the bow's potential.
Given that your bow was purchased about eight months ago I would at least consider a re-hair, but playing an hour a day isn't the kind of heavy use that would generally require multiple re-hairs within one year...imho.
Generally speaking though, re-hairing is GOOD!
Joe
I often have the same problem. It feels natural to me to hold the bow with a straight thumb, but when I do, my thumb starts to ache within a few minutes.
Holding the bow with a bent thumb, however, feels unstable to me; it feels as though the bow wants to retreat into my palm, and I don't feel that I have as much control as I do with the straight thumb.
I think part of my problem is trying to form my hold while holding the bow in the air. As Joe said, the bow hold isn't firm when the bow is on the string. I guess that trying to control it off the string isn't necessary and can lead to problems like mine.
Through practice, I'm slowly getting used to the bent thumb. Would rubber tubing on the stick make this easier?
Thanks,
Pete
Holding the bow with a bent thumb, however, feels unstable to me; it feels as though the bow wants to retreat into my palm, and I don't feel that I have as much control as I do with the straight thumb.
I think part of my problem is trying to form my hold while holding the bow in the air. As Joe said, the bow hold isn't firm when the bow is on the string. I guess that trying to control it off the string isn't necessary and can lead to problems like mine.
Through practice, I'm slowly getting used to the bent thumb. Would rubber tubing on the stick make this easier?
Thanks,
Pete
I know how all your right hand aches and pains can go away instantly...the solution may be so incomprehensible that heads will explode, the earth may spontaneously combust, and the sun itself will turn blue all from two words, these two words along with another two words set a rift between bass players that many remember eons ago...ready...german bow
darrenmccarthy said:
German bow side effects may include- a lack of redness or spotting at sight of use,also a lack of pain and discomfort. Don't use German bow if you can not operate [del]heavy machinery[/del] , machinery at all(including but not limited too cars, toasters, books, computers, blenders, CNC machines, ect.) or if you dont believe that H J Butler existed. German bow may confuse someone who hasnt ever seen it, at the first sign of confusion call your doctor for a prescription of TB.
Sorry but i think everyone kind of knew this or something similar was going to come from me...gl OP
Edit:400th post feel honored op
