Learn to Develop a More Natural-feeling Bow Hold
A 5-step approach to finding the perfect grip for your violin or viola bow
The Problem
You have difficulty getting a natural-feeling bow hold, one that produces the desired tone colors, strokes, and dynamics.
The Solution
As the foundation of your bow technique—literally how you and your bow connect—your bow hold can either support your technique or hinder it. Given the variety of bow holds demonstrated by talented artists throughout history, some argue that what you do with your bow is more important than how you hold it.
However, these variations exist because of anatomical differences between players, the musical tastes of the times, and misinterpretations, and not because it doesn’t matter.
A good bow hold feels so natural you hardly notice it and rarely think about it. It balances the elements of both flexibility and strength, facilitating complete command over the bow as a tool to produce a variety of tone colors, strokes, and dynamics. A troubled bow hold, on the other hand, has limitations in terms of flexibility and strength.
This article, "Learn to Develop a More Natural-feeling Bow Hold," is part of the Strings Archive, which you can access with a paid site subscription.
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