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Double Bass vibrato while bowing.

D

dirtdog792

Feb 3, 2009
26
1
Morrow, GA
#1
hey everyone,

Been playing fingerstyle for about a year now and have recently started practicing with the bow due to a challenge with a co-worker. I've been getting good results with my fiberglass glasser bow(my brazilwood from string emporium needs to be re-haired). My problem is with vibrato. Me trying to execute vibrato while bowing is like watching a five year old trying to pat their head and rub their stomach at the same time. Except it's not as cute, but equally as funny.
If anyone has any tips or links on proper technique, a push in that direction would be greatly appreciated.
 
#2
The motion is just like shifting position over and over. So start by playing slurs with one finger, like a trill done with position shifts. Then make the shifts smaller, and you'll get the feel for it.

It's always like that to start with, don't despair, keep at it. Vibrato is hard, and takes a lot of practice... but one day it will suddenly just click.
 
#3
It's more like rolling your finger from one side to another, back and forth, along the fingerboard. I tend to twist my wrist slightly while doing it. Practice on your right arm (assuming your left-handed) first, then move to the bass. Practice!
 
#8
If you still need help, the way I learned it is act like your shaking a can of soda, then apply it to the fingerboard ,first without the bow, and then with the bow. And the hardest part for me was keeping it measured, so be sure to practice different rhythms and always with a metronome.
 
#9
What you also can do is practice vibrato when playing pizzicato. That is much easier then with bowing. Especially using vibrato on long slow arco notes (4 beats etc.) is difficult. You have to keep good bow contact with the strings. Good tip to practice rhythms but keep in mind that in practice your vibrato is less rhythmical then with the exercises.

In thumb position the vibrato is the hardest in my experience. Especially playing long notes in TP.
Be patient. It takes years to develop a smooth and musical vibrato.
 
#11
dirtdog792 said:
I can execute vibrato while playing pizz till the cows come home. It's something about arco that throws me off. Focusing on my arco technique while trying vibrato is the problem. It's like my arms forget what they're doing.
Click to expand...

Maybe you can try this:

Step 1: Practise one note, let's say your favourite note on the bass.. something that lies comfortably for you. Play it without vibrato.. Use the whole bow each stroke. Think legato..get a nice sound and steady rhythm going. Stay relaxed. Keep it going until you don't need to think about what your right arm is doing anymore.. it's 'automatic'. THEN imagine the sound with some vibrato. Think how it would be nicer. Gradually add it until you get the sound you were imagining. Keep it up.. Stay calm and get used to the feeling in your body and the sound you are making.

Then: congratulations!

Step 2: Do it on other notes. Your goal here is to be able to do it on any note you're likely to need while playing your repertoire. But always get the bow arm comfortable first, as above. You can practise scales with vibrato also.. if you're in the mood.. but take them slowly. Be patient. Always make a beautiful sound.. on every note in that scale.

Step 3: Take a passage that you need to play and for which vibrato would be appropriate. Same method as before: play it straight (no vibrato) until your bowing is fluent and meanwhile feel where the vibrato is lacking (usually the long notes). When ready, introduce the vibrato to those notes turning them from straight notes into beautiful ones.. Repeat the passage over and over until you're really comfortable and satisfied with it before moving on..


Let us know how it goes.
 
#14
Witjas said:
Maybe you can try this:

Step 1: Practise one note, let's say your favourite note on the bass.. something that lies comfortably for you. Play it without vibrato.. Use the whole bow each stroke. Think legato..get a nice sound and steady rhythm going. Stay relaxed. Keep it going until you don't need to think about what your right arm is doing anymore.. it's 'automatic'. THEN imagine the sound with some vibrato. Think how it would be nicer. Gradually add it until you get the sound you were imagining. Keep it up.. Stay calm and get used to the feeling in your body and the sound you are making.

Then: congratulations!

Step 2: Do it on other notes. Your goal here is to be able to do it on any note you're likely to need while playing your repertoire. But always get the bow arm comfortable first, as above. You can practise scales with vibrato also.. if you're in the mood.. but take them slowly. Be patient. Always make a beautiful sound.. on every note in that scale.

Step 3: Take a passage that you need to play and for which vibrato would be appropriate. Same method as before: play it straight (no vibrato) until your bowing is fluent and meanwhile feel where the vibrato is lacking (usually the long notes). When ready, introduce the vibrato to those notes turning them from straight notes into beautiful ones.. Repeat the passage over and over until you're really comfortable and satisfied with it before moving on..


Let us know how it goes.
Click to expand...

awesome, sounds like a plan.
 
#18
Les Fret said:
Think you mean Jamiroquai? Did he get the job? otherwise no reason for coming late. Maybe a classical teacher will be better for you if you want to develop your bowing chops.
Click to expand...

I honestly don't know. And I didn't care @ the time. I could tell his focus wasn't w/ me after he was late twice. He knows his stuff though. As far as finding another teacher is concerned, I'm taking my time to find the right fit. Someone who plays jazz and classical and who uses a German bow.
 
#19
dirtdog792 said:
I honestly don't know. And I didn't care @ the time. I could tell his focus wasn't w/ me after he was late twice. He knows his stuff though. As far as finding another teacher is concerned, I'm taking my time to find the right fit. Someone who plays jazz and classical and who uses a German bow.
Click to expand...

You've got one of the world's great orchestras just a short drive to the north. Symphonic playing may not be your thing, and you may not have the cash to make one of these cats your regular teacher, but even two or three lessons up there could be a real eye opener, and give you a lot to think about while you're between teachers.

I may get nailed for this, but it was a jazz player who told me: "You go to a jazz teacher to learn jazz. You go to a classical teacher if you want to learn technique"
 
#20
I started w/ the bow a month or two ago. If you already do okay vibrato w/o it, it'll just start coming on while you're bowing eventually. Then all the usual technique problems/solutions apply, but it is definitely less like the "pat head/rub tummy" thing, which is how I thought of it for the first few weeks.
 

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