Congrats, Jonathan! This is fabulous. So well done, clean, concise, focused, lighthearted in just the right places--Thank you! I'll be letting people know about this important contribution and I hope there will be lots more. Your fan, John
Excellent! Very thorough, nicely edited, some amusing bits, and very helpful information clearly presented. I would bet it will work well for 90% of those watching! The remaining 10% can use what is presented here and adapt to their unique physique or hand structure (though don’t adapt too soon without giving this the old “college try”). My approach (in-person) would be to emphasize the very natural flop of the hand on the stick - like a gecko grabbing onto a twig. Then I adjust and talk about finger-placement. Your video is a very nice complement to my approach. I’ll probably say, “do this...yada yada...then watch this video.” Thanks for your work, the graphics, and editing!
Thanks! I was a little worried that I was going too in-depth so I'm glad to hear that you'll find it useful for your students. That was the idea - something that students can use in conjunction with a teacher or parent and not just on their own.
Great job. I have never had anyone explain it so clearly and in such detail--which is really needed. I have played bass for years and yet have never been sure if I am holding the bow correctly. I also like how you divided the fingers into the two middle and the outer fingers, telling where the two middle fingers should go. Questions about the thumb. Should it be putting pressure on the frog? The Stick? Upward pressure? Pressure towards the frog? No pressure? How much pressure? Related to this is, how do we hold up the bow and put pressure on it when needed at the frog and especially at the tip. Do you move your index finger when playing at the tip of the bow? Maybe you have another video about this?
Hey Randal, thanks for your kind comments. I do plan on making another video that addresses some of these questions, but in short, the thumb should be applying slight inward pressure on the stick, nothing back on the frog really. On my bow, the thumb comes into contact with the frog because my hair is currently short but I don't apply pressure to the frog really. Instead the thumb and the middle two fingers kind of counteract each other, making a "cradle" around the stick of the bow. As for the first finger, I don't move it over very often but it is applying a lot of force in that scenario.
@@jbordenbass Thanks for your very helpful reply. I can't believe that I have managed to play for so long without knowing this. Any teacher or video I have watched before never went into this level of detail. Best wishes for you future videos. I will definitely subscribe to them.
This is good. My question; is the thumb actually pressing up against the stick? Sort of like it's holding the stick up or is it just sitting there or serving some other purpose(S)?
Thanks! Yes, in conjunction with the outer fingers, mainly the middle fingers, your thumb "cradles" the stick. Think of your thumb and middle two fingers as a claw grabbing slightly underneath the stick and keeping it in the middle of your hand. As with everything, it's a balancing act - so careful not to "press" too much with the thumb! Happy practicing.
I often find myself holding the French bow more likely the Italian bow hold way than this video. My thumb kind of holding at the C-bout of the frog. I find this video way of bow hold kinda throwing me out of my comfort zone and my thumb feels more strained especially the thenar muscle (I feel like I'm having muscle cramp LOL), often feeling that the French bow is gonna drop off anyway LOL But I guess I'm squeezing too hard, my thumb is swelling dang painful, so I kinda resort to German bow temporarily vice versa so forth, to rest the overstrained muscles before the actual performance day🙃
How much weight of the bow should each finger support? I’ve been working on my bow hold a lot and it seems that my index and thumb support about 80% of the weight, while my pinky and ring finger hold 20%, and my middle finger supports nothing at all. I can’t help but think i’m doing something wrong, does anyone have any tips for this?
Hi there, thanks for the question. While playing, the string should be doing a lot to support the bow - holding the bow out in front of you is very different from holding it while playing on a string. That being said, you will absolutely find that your thumb does a lot of the "work", as in that it is the most engaged finger, and that your index finger will be highly engaged as well as you travel out towards the tip of the bow. Hope that helps.
Clearest explanation I've seen on holding the French bow. Thanks
The best bow tutorial out there.
Superb tutorial, one of, if not THE best on RUclips.
Congrats, Jonathan! This is fabulous. So well done, clean, concise, focused, lighthearted in just the right places--Thank you! I'll be letting people know about this important contribution and I hope there will be lots more. Your fan, John
ive been playing bass for nearly 6 years now but i've been having some wrist pain and this video is super helpful
Excellent! Very thorough, nicely edited, some amusing bits, and very helpful information clearly presented. I would bet it will work well for 90% of those watching! The remaining 10% can use what is presented here and adapt to their unique physique or hand structure (though don’t adapt too soon without giving this the old “college try”). My approach (in-person) would be to emphasize the very natural flop of the hand on the stick - like a gecko grabbing onto a twig. Then I adjust and talk about finger-placement. Your video is a very nice complement to my approach. I’ll probably say, “do this...yada yada...then watch this video.” Thanks for your work, the graphics, and editing!
Thanks! I was a little worried that I was going too in-depth so I'm glad to hear that you'll find it useful for your students. That was the idea - something that students can use in conjunction with a teacher or parent and not just on their own.
Very clear. Looking forward to trying this technique. Thanks
Wow, i love the quality of the video, well done! Saludos desde Puerto Rico 🇵🇷
Great job. I have never had anyone explain it so clearly and in such detail--which is really needed. I have played bass for years and yet have never been sure if I am holding the bow correctly. I also like how you divided the fingers into the two middle and the outer fingers, telling where the two middle fingers should go. Questions about the thumb. Should it be putting pressure on the frog? The Stick? Upward pressure? Pressure towards the frog? No pressure? How much pressure? Related to this is, how do we hold up the bow and put pressure on it when needed at the frog and especially at the tip. Do you move your index finger when playing at the tip of the bow? Maybe you have another video about this?
Hey Randal, thanks for your kind comments. I do plan on making another video that addresses some of these questions, but in short, the thumb should be applying slight inward pressure on the stick, nothing back on the frog really. On my bow, the thumb comes into contact with the frog because my hair is currently short but I don't apply pressure to the frog really. Instead the thumb and the middle two fingers kind of counteract each other, making a "cradle" around the stick of the bow. As for the first finger, I don't move it over very often but it is applying a lot of force in that scenario.
@@jbordenbass Thanks for your very helpful reply. I can't believe that I have managed to play for so long without knowing this. Any teacher or video I have watched before never went into this level of detail.
Best wishes for you future videos. I will definitely subscribe to them.
This is fantastic! Thank you!
Very nice, I’ve done lots of playing but always looking to do some fine tuning!
Thanks, I just started on upright and this video is simple, clear and effective.
Really useful
Excelente explicación, Gracias!
This is superb. Thanks for doing it.
Great to hear you teaching Jonathan! And I absolutely love the design and editing too!
Thanks so much!
This is awesome-great job, Jonathan!!!
Thanks so much!
This is an excellent video -- really great job! 🙌
Clear and beautifully presented. Terrific job!
Great video, Jonathan!
Great job Jonathan, thanks. Btw which methods do you use for beginners trough pre college students?
This is good. My question; is the thumb actually pressing up against the stick? Sort of like it's holding the stick up or is it just sitting there or serving some other purpose(S)?
Thanks! Yes, in conjunction with the outer fingers, mainly the middle fingers, your thumb "cradles" the stick. Think of your thumb and middle two fingers as a claw grabbing slightly underneath the stick and keeping it in the middle of your hand. As with everything, it's a balancing act - so careful not to "press" too much with the thumb! Happy practicing.
I often find myself holding the French bow more likely the Italian bow hold way than this video.
My thumb kind of holding at the C-bout of the frog.
I find this video way of bow hold kinda throwing me out of my comfort zone and my thumb feels more strained especially the thenar muscle (I feel like I'm having muscle cramp LOL),
often feeling that the French bow is gonna drop off anyway LOL
But I guess I'm squeezing too hard,
my thumb is swelling dang painful,
so I kinda resort to German bow temporarily vice versa so forth,
to rest the overstrained muscles before the actual performance day🙃
How much weight of the bow should each finger support? I’ve been working on my bow hold a lot and it seems that my index and thumb support about 80% of the weight, while my pinky and ring finger hold 20%, and my middle finger supports nothing at all. I can’t help but think i’m doing something wrong, does anyone have any tips for this?
Hi there, thanks for the question. While playing, the string should be doing a lot to support the bow - holding the bow out in front of you is very different from holding it while playing on a string. That being said, you will absolutely find that your thumb does a lot of the "work", as in that it is the most engaged finger, and that your index finger will be highly engaged as well as you travel out towards the tip of the bow. Hope that helps.
I play 5 String Cello but a French Bass bow is held exactally like a Violin, Viola, & Cello bow w/ an overhand grip.