Wow...so...I noticed you holding the bow in a different position other than the frog. You said it helps with control....I'm playing in a highschool band (I'm only teaching myself the intrument...) and we're doing a lot of shorter notes. Would I be able to do that with the pieces WE'RE doing? And...would it be harder to use for a beginner?
I don't think it's any harder, it's just a matter of practise. This hold is no good if you want long slow bowstrokes, but for short bouncy dance tunes I find it very comfortable and convenient, and hardly notice how I hold the bow anymore!
@BethanyAngelstar The older peices like that have a completely lose hold, but a newer style allows control and a lose finish so that it doesn't matter whether your doing Vivaldo or just trying to keep up with an Orchestra, your bow doesn't explode..unless its tight-but thats another story...
Try playing a long bow stroke, starting with no pressure on the bow except its own weight, then gradally increasing the pressure with the index finger, and see how the quality of the note changes.
I am still in the very first steps of learning how to play the fiddle/violin (will be watching and following the other videos when I get the time) but I noticed you change the angle between the bow and the string. what exactly does this do? besides narrowing the area that that touches the strings.
Basically it increases bow control. Angling the bow towards the scroll reduces the amount of hair on the string as you say. Increasing the pressure on the bow with the index finger then puts more hair back on the string, increasing the volume. If you put too much pressure on, the bowhair bites too much and you get a "scrunch".
yeah i see that you only use the top half of the bow. Wondered about that as well but my fiddle teacher was just talking about using the different parts of the bow for different sounds, so i think i have my answer there. Thanks for the info. Makes a lot of sense.
very nice. I see a lot of people playing fiddle on your side of the pond holding the bow around the balance point and not the frog. Is there a reason for this or just tradition? Thanks
Holding at the frog is necessary if you're using the whole length of the bow, as is required in classical music with long notes. In fiddle playing, which is generally dance tunes, long notes are rare, and this hold (for me) gives more power to the bow.
I was trained classically, this hold has just developed over 4-5 years of fiddle playing. You'll notice I'm only using the top half of the bow on the string.
Wow...so...I noticed you holding the bow in a different position other than the frog. You said it helps with control....I'm playing in a highschool band (I'm only teaching myself the intrument...) and we're doing a lot of shorter notes. Would I be able to do that with the pieces WE'RE doing? And...would it be harder to use for a beginner?
BethanyAngelstar 4 years ago
I don't think it's any harder, it's just a matter of practise. This hold is no good if you want long slow bowstrokes, but for short bouncy dance tunes I find it very comfortable and convenient, and hardly notice how I hold the bow anymore!
Milner1966 4 years ago
:) thank-you very much! You probably just made learning my songs much easier!! Thanks a bunch!!
Thank-you for putting this video up!
BethanyAngelstar 4 years ago
@BethanyAngelstar The older peices like that have a completely lose hold, but a newer style allows control and a lose finish so that it doesn't matter whether your doing Vivaldo or just trying to keep up with an Orchestra, your bow doesn't explode..unless its tight-but thats another story...
SpartanRL999 4 months ago
Try playing a long bow stroke, starting with no pressure on the bow except its own weight, then gradally increasing the pressure with the index finger, and see how the quality of the note changes.
Milner1966 4 years ago
I am still in the very first steps of learning how to play the fiddle/violin (will be watching and following the other videos when I get the time) but I noticed you change the angle between the bow and the string. what exactly does this do? besides narrowing the area that that touches the strings.
3dsniper 4 years ago
Basically it increases bow control. Angling the bow towards the scroll reduces the amount of hair on the string as you say. Increasing the pressure on the bow with the index finger then puts more hair back on the string, increasing the volume. If you put too much pressure on, the bowhair bites too much and you get a "scrunch".
Milner1966 4 years ago
ah, same thing happens when you apply too much rosin (or so I found out with my violin)
3dsniper 4 years ago
in Orkney we play it much much slower than that.
xxecilaxx 4 years ago
Yeah, I realised afterwards I'd got into jig mode - oh well!
Milner1966 4 years ago
yeah i see that you only use the top half of the bow. Wondered about that as well but my fiddle teacher was just talking about using the different parts of the bow for different sounds, so i think i have my answer there. Thanks for the info. Makes a lot of sense.
s0ulrider 4 years ago
very nice. I see a lot of people playing fiddle on your side of the pond holding the bow around the balance point and not the frog. Is there a reason for this or just tradition? Thanks
s0ulrider 4 years ago
It gives a different control to the bow.
Holding at the frog is necessary if you're using the whole length of the bow, as is required in classical music with long notes. In fiddle playing, which is generally dance tunes, long notes are rare, and this hold (for me) gives more power to the bow.
I was trained classically, this hold has just developed over 4-5 years of fiddle playing. You'll notice I'm only using the top half of the bow on the string.
Milner1966 4 years ago