Learning to hold the bow
The bow should be held in a natural fashion. It is difficult at first, but with the proper set of tips, you should be ready to go in no time!
Try this: grab a cup, and notice your grip. This is the perfect bow grip, and is something we want to mimic when we hold our bow.
Another way to look at it: In a standing position, when your arm is resting at your side, the relaxed fingers are in an almost perfect position for holding the bow. The hand and the fingers are gently rounded, as if holding a ball. A good bow hand should not deviate from this natural position.
The bow should be held in a natural fashion. It is difficult at first, but with the proper set of tips, you should be ready to go in no time!
Try this: grab a cup, and notice your grip. This is the perfect bow grip, and is something we want to mimic when we hold our bow.
Another way to look at it: In a standing position, when your arm is resting at your side, the relaxed fingers are in an almost perfect position for holding the bow. The hand and the fingers are gently rounded, as if holding a ball. A good bow hand should not deviate from this natural position.
Proper finger placement aids bowing movements and provides good leverage for tone control. The fingers contact the stick at the 5 points shown to the right.
1 = right index finger
2 = right middle finger
3 = right ring finger
4 = right pinky finger
T = right thumb
Tips:
Learn the function of each finger:
1 = right index finger
2 = right middle finger
3 = right ring finger
4 = right pinky finger
T = right thumb
Tips:
Learn the function of each finger:
- The tip of the thumb supports the bow between the frog and the leather or winding.
- The middle finger rests opposite the thumb, the last joint touching the bow stick.
- The middle finger does not exert any pressure, it just secures the fulcrum with the thumb.
- The index finger touches the bow in the middle of the second phalanx.
- It has two functions:
- It can press the bow onto the string (you must counter that pressure with your thumb),
- and it can pull the bow towards the bridge to control sounding points.
- The ring finger touches the bow stick with the joint between the second and third phalanx. It controls the sounding point by pulling the bow toward the fingerboard.
- The thumb is always the fulcrum. The little finger stands on top of the bow stick. By pressing down, it can lift the bow off the string.