This has made me feel a lot more comfortable with the bow. After playing electric bass since the age of 11, I finally took up string bass at the age of 64. I’ve been struggling with German bow, and I was seriously thinking of switching over to French, but I somehow missed what you should do with your middle finger. So you’re kind of holding it like a chopstick. Wonderful, thank you so much.
Bobby, Great video. I can hear my teacher, Anthony Bianco, teaching me the very same concept. He would put his arm on my shoulder and press down which would cause tension. Then he would just drop his arm on my shoulder with the relax weight of his arm. Same idea that has served me well.
I’ve never understood the concept of arm weight because it would seem to me that the anterior deltoid and pectoral muscles are at play to keep the bow from falling to the side of the bass, therefore how do you determine what arm weight is? If you let your arm fall it will fall off the board. If you keep it on the board the deltoid and pecs are adding upward resistance.
This has made me feel a lot more comfortable with the bow. After playing electric bass since the age of 11, I finally took up string bass at the age of 64. I’ve been struggling with German bow, and I was seriously thinking of switching over to French, but I somehow missed what you should do with your middle finger. So you’re kind of holding it like a chopstick. Wonderful, thank you so much.
I look forward to your other videos very much. The arm weight thing has also helped me.
Bobby, Great video. I can hear my teacher, Anthony Bianco, teaching me the very same concept. He would put his arm on my shoulder and press down which would cause tension. Then he would just drop his arm on my shoulder with the relax weight of his arm. Same idea that has served me well.
I’ve never understood the concept of arm weight because it would seem to me that the anterior deltoid and pectoral muscles are at play to keep the bow from falling to the side of the bass, therefore how do you determine what arm weight is? If you let your arm fall it will fall off the board. If you keep it on the board the deltoid and pecs are adding upward resistance.
Great demonstration
great video! My bow jumps when letting it go over the strings, though, and no matter how much I tight or loosen it
it is interesting how there is analogy between bass and jazz drums where many choose a similar underhand grip, with similar pros and cons seemingly.
Loved the simple physics equation… I was like….. oh, duh. How much rosin do you use?