Double Bass Zimmerman Spiccato

[Meddle771]

So I'm working on page 11 developing my spiccato, and have a couple questions.

1. Do you typically use more rosin? It seems to be easier for me, but I'm not sure if I'm handicapping myself by using more rosin when practicing this exercise than everything else.

2. Does anything about your bow-hold change?

 

[eerbrev]

I'm curious to see what others say on this subject. I'm working on my bow strokes as well (spiccato included). One thing I can say is that more rosin isn't going to help you. As my friend says, "rosin is a crutch for the weak!"

eerbrev

 

[Michael Eisenman]

Not Zimmermann-specific, but the YouTube videos featuring Andrew Anderson might prove helpful. Episodes 7-9 discuss spiccato.

Here's episode 7: Andrew Anderson Teaches the Double Bass - Part 7 - YouTube

 

[Blakewdm]

. As my friend says, "rosin is a crutch for the weak!"

eerbrev

false

 

[neilG]

So I'm working on page 11 developing my spiccato, and have a couple questions.

1. Do you typically use more rosin? It seems to be easier for me, but I'm not sure if I'm handicapping myself by using more rosin when practicing this exercise than everything else.

2. Does anything about your bow-hold change?

If you have enough rosin on the bow to play normally, you should have enough to play spicatto.

I don't change my hand position (German bow) for any particular stroke.

 

[eerbrev]

If you have enough rosin on the bow to play normally, you should have enough to play spicatto.

True.

 

[David Potts]

You don't say whether you are a German or French bow user. I assume French. If your bow hair is newer rather than older you should not need a lot of rosin. The angle of drop into the string for a clean sound will vary according to where you are along the bow length. Further out towards the tip of the bow the stick rotates around your thumb and notes tend to be struck with more vertical Vee shaped movements that pivot around your thumb. Near the balance point of the bow stick the bounce becomes flatter and is often carried more in a shallower scooping action. Generally, for this approach I will drop my elbow and flatten the hand to carry the bow back and forward through the movement rather than strike the string. Between the balance point and the frog the bounce becomes heavier and cruder, useful for gouging the sound out of lower strings.

Every bow will bounce differently and there should be lots of experimenting.

Cheers....

DP

 

[Blakewdm]

I'm not saying lots of rosin will get you a spicatto,but....oh wait...I am saying that

 

[Meddle771]

Thanks for the info. I'm about to watch those Anderson videos.

After posting yesterday I focused on this for about an hour, and realized that a lot of my problems were being caused by my bow hold (German). I was trying to support the entire weight of the bow with my pinky alone underneath the frog.