Welcome to our forum. A Message To Our New and Prospective Members . Check out our Forum Rules. Lets keep this forum an enjoyable place to visit.
Private messaging is working again.

Sign in with 3rd Party Account
Sign in with Site Password








Member

Hi all new member here, only been playing a few weeks. Im having an issue with my bow skipping across the strings so made a video of how i hold the bow as someone mentioned this could be the root cause. Any feedback is appreciated. Thanks.

Honorary advisor
Regulars

Honorary advisor
Regulars

Regulars
I'm glad both videos were posted here! Chorlick, you have thumbs like mine! Very long and they have the ability to lock in-ward!
That brings me to my question. What's the best way to position your thumb in a bow hold?
I noticed in the FM video, Pierre has his thumb in an outward curved position (forming that C shape with his hand). I am able to do that as well, but notice that I will slip the opposite way (much like chorlick's thumb in his video) due to the length/double jointedness of my thumb.
Usually, when my thumb locks inward, my pinky lifts off of the bow and the forefinger picks up the slack in balancing. When that does happen, I do get a bit of bouncing.
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” ~Benjamin Franklin

Honorary tenured advisor
Regulars

There are different bow hold, Pierre is showing one, but there are others and the index up the bow with fingers a bit more spread is one of them and actually a popular on, so Chor hold is fine, but I agree on the relaxing. Google bow hold it's crazy to see how many there are!
"It can sing like a bird, it can cry like a human being, it can be very angry, it can be all that humans are" Maxim Vengerov

Regulars
Ya know, bow holds should be like shoe sizing!
You put your hand on one of those measuring things then match it to the perfect bow hold!
.........wait, I think we're on a roll in "product development!" Let's see, Violin Air Fresheners, Violin Sunblock and now a Bow Hold Measuring Tool!!!
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” ~Benjamin Franklin

Regular advisor
Regulars

Honorary tenured advisor
Regulars


Regular advisor
Regulars

Honorary tenured advisor
Regulars


Honorary tenured advisor
Regulars


Honorary tenured advisor
Regulars

Springer is right and a good trick to have a relaxed bow hold is to make a bunny with your hand! You know when you were a kid and making shadows on the walls? Then just slip the stick, your pinky will rest curved on the top of the stick, the second and third are buddies sticking together on the frog and the index will find it's natural place. Keep the thumb curved also to make sure it's flexible, rest it in the little nook between frog and leather strip.
"It can sing like a bird, it can cry like a human being, it can be very angry, it can be all that humans are" Maxim Vengerov

Member

Thank you everyone for your replies. Last night i spent some time researching bow holds and other techniques as well as looking up the clothespin exercise.
Someone asked for a video of me playing ill try and post one tonight, im a little camera shy actually so im a bit hesitant but im definitely looking for more insight. Thanks again everyone! FM FTW!

Honorary tenured advisor
Regulars

Regulars

No need to be bashful here, Chorlick! This place is crawling with fellow beginners. We are all working on something. Just relax and go with the flow and the music will follow [eventually].
Whenever you are ready, go ahead and post a video of your playing. It can be surprising the things you don't even realize you are doing until you record it, and the folks on here can point out stuff that you wouldn't even realize is negatively affecting your playing.
Plus, we all enjoy watching each other's videos.
1 Guest(s)

