String Bass Bow Types & Holds

Click for link to Google Site with the complete video lesson.

Click for Video on Set Up, Playing & Putting Away of Violins & Violas

Click for Video of types of bows for the orchestral stringed instruments.

There are two types string bass bows, German & French:

bass frogs

The two types of bows are held in two very different ways.

The French bow is the same type of bow used by violinists, violists, and cellists.  Therefore the hold is very similar to violin, viola, & cello bow holds.

The main bow hold for French Bass bow is with your middle two fingers and thumb, which are together, and should be curved to form a circle form.  Your index and pinkie fingers rest on either side of your middle two fingers and thumb.  Pinkie should sit just above the eye of the frog.

1. Start first by making a bunny with your hand.

bunny position

Click here for a video of the bunny position.

Then make the bunny with a pencil.

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Click here for a video showing the Bunny Position with a pencil.

Pictures of the French bow hold.

french front

french back

Here is video showing the French Bass bow hold.

The German bow is a very different bow from the other stringed instrument bows, and therefore the bow hold is therefore entirely different:

greman prep

german front

german back

Click here for video showing the German Bass bow hold.

 

Lesson on Violin & Viola Bow Holds

Lesson on Cello Bow Hold