Bow Grip / Bow Speed, Pressure, and Sounding Point / Detaché / Legato / Bow Changes / Collé / Martelé / Staccato / Spiccato / Sautillé / Ricochet / Chords

Bow Grip

How to find the best hand motions, speeds, and amplitudes for the unique mood and character of each phrase.

Definition

Thumb: supports the bow, provides fulcrum

Middle Finger: closes the ring with the thumb to secure fulcrum

Index Finger: presses the bow down and controls sounding point

Ring Finger: controls Sounding Point

Little Finger: lifts bow pressure

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Exercises

Keep the Same Bow Grip!

Check your bow grip after each bar.

If your bow grip has changed, figure out on which note it changed.

Systematically increase the number of bars between checks.

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Flexibility

Utilizing Kreutzer No. 13 (or a similar exercise), start on the D string and explore the range of possible string crossings using only your fingers.

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