How To Hold And Use Your Violin Bow.
Section Links: Intro Parts Tightening Rosin The Grip The Stroke Bow Pressure
Getting a grip on the violin bow.
Where to hold the violin bow. Fiddlers vary quite a bit in how they hold the violin bow; but most of the better players I know use some variation of the so-called "classical" grip. You'll do yourself a huge favor if you do the same. This doesn't mean you will sound like a classical violinist--it just means that you'll be able play along the entire length of the stick, have good tone, and maintain control. This video explains why you want to hold the violin bow at the end, near the screw.
- If you hold your violin bow at the end, you'll have the whole length of the bow available.
- You don't want to sacrifice any length. In some fiddle tunes, you 'll need all of your violin bow.
- You can't afford to have the bow spin in your hand as you play. If you hold it at the end, you can keep it stable.
How to grip the violin bow. A good violin bow grip uses three pressure points to control the bow: the tip of the thumb, the 1st finger, and the pinky. Even if you're not a basketball fan, think of this grip style as a "3 Point Play." This video explains how to form this ideal grip and why it works.
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Let your thumb serve as a fulcrum, or pivot point on the under side of the stick
- Use your first finger and the tip of your pinky as pressure points on the upper side of the stick.
- With this grip you'll be able to control downward pressure on your violin bow no matter where your violin strings are contacting the bow.