Double Bass When bowing the E string I bump my right leg

[argbass1]

Hi, I'm not much of an arco specialist obviously, but for some reason I can't do a full bow on my E string without hitting into my right leg. I've tried holding my bass differently, raising and lowering the peg, and various different bow angles.
I think that I'm holding the bow right and I try and keep it parallel to the fingerboard and curved toward me but for some reason my leg is in the way. Anyone have some advice for this frustrated jazz player trying to get into arco? Thanks

 

[quenoil]

Hard to diagnose without seeing you play. Do you play French or German bow?

My totally blind guess is that you are holding the bass pretty much perpendicular to your body. I would recommend holding the instrument in a more "open" way, with your body essentially directly behind the bass. This should fix that problem. Not easy to explain without showing you or seeing what you're doing now.

Good luck

 

[Andrew McGregor]

It's pretty normal for it to get very close, but really this is a matter of finding a way to hold yourself and the instrument so this doesn't happen. You need to get around behind the bass.

You're going to have to bow very close to the A string... there's no need to move the bow any further between A and E strings than between D and A.

 

[slinkycheeseman]

Move your leg so your bow doesn't hit it. YEA score one more for slinkycheeseman

 

[professorslinky]

I'm guessing you play german bow. This is by far your biggest problem, french bow is by far the superior bow (It will solve your problem). You should switch or just quit the bass.

 

[nfblackburn13]

ouch thats a little harsh
i know a ton of good german players
don't hate

 

[futurebass77]

most of the above doesnt matter, its how you hold your instrument. try standing/sitting behind the bass more instead of side.

 

[K_Shizzle]

Watch yourself bow in the mirror. It'll help a lot.

 

[David Potts]

An important question for argbass 1?

Are you talking about standing or sitting to play, or both?

DP

 

[Eric Swanson]

ouch thats a little harsh
i know a ton of good german players
don't hate

No, its not hate. Its Der Professor! (aka BaronvonSlinky, Slinkystar, Slinkycheeseman, etc.) Try laughing, it works better, IMHO. For a chuckle, check out "Slinkycheeseman's" profile...

Add salt to taste I am grateful for the levity.

+1 to David Potts' question. Tell us more about your playing stance. Perhaps fill out your profile, too?

 

[Veed]

hold the neck of you bass in your hand like you normally would. now lift it up and keep the neck and your left hand right where they are, but bring the endpin foward. in the end you will be making your bass at a more diagonal angle to you---but not that extreme at all, just enough so that when you bow it won't it hit your leg