The Bow Hold

[Tgedz98]

Even after watching this video 4x I still cannot get a bowhold that allows my wrist to be flexible enough for quaver passages. Somebody help me!!!

[Tgedz98]

Thanx for the video tips! Im Grd 7 violin and been realising that my bow hold isnt ideal for haydn/classical quaver passages and ive discovered that it is because my wrist isnt flexible enough. My teacher helped me out but I just needed your video to perfect it.

[421mistr]

i do it so much differently

[stubshaft1]

Very concise and educational. I used to bow TUF and have since switched after watching your video.

[ItachiElric]

*O* Thank you so much! I just recently started playing violin and have been advaning very fast but I knew that my bow hold was wrong... it just felt strange and I always had to readjust and when my violin teacher tried to explain he couldn't really give me much guidance. When I followed this video though, it instantly felt right and the Irish jig I've practing got much cleaner and clearer because I had more control over the bow! Thank you so much!! :D

[xenophile84]

It should be clarified that this is a bow hold for fiddle playing, not classical violin playing. For classical playing you want the hand to be further down on the stick (the pinky is essentially on top of the screw). Also, the top joint of the index finger, not the second joint, should sit on the stick.

[Tgedz98]

@xenophile84

Thank you for clearing this up for me, ill bear this in mind

[awesomelilli12]

I just started playing cello...my teacher said the same thing about keeping your thumb bent...but mine tends to like flex and get tight. Any advice?

[petecooperfiddle]

@awesomelilli12

Take a few minutes to relax your whole arm, breathing slowly. The trick is to apply the minimum pressure, so that the hold is secure but not rigid. Good luck!

[davidthearrowshooter]

@awesomelilli12 keep your finger/hand relax at alll time and i think you can do it. that how i did

[Chrisjune13]

@gohjiamin its because you keep your finger locked many people keep there finger locked try to unlock the finger and keep it your wrist and fingers relaxed it helps alot

[C8Blanket]

This bow-hold lesson is the best on Youtube. Not overcomplicated and unnatural, as some of the other lessons seem to be. My violin teacher at school had been a professional violinist with the Halle Orchestra and she taught me to hold the bow in this way. It's good to find an online instructor with a similar, versatile technique now I've started to play again. Thank you.

[Zarashi99]

good day t'ya, mr. pete!

may i know the title of the piece you played here?

[bowholdbuddies]

Wonderful lesson!

In my studio, students learn the bow hold very quickly using the Bow Hold Buddies[tm] bow accessory. The accessory keeps the hand relaxed and fingers in place while we learn more music.

Thanks!

[jtrstrings]

@bowholdbuddies I LOVE the Bow Hold Buddies!!!! They work amazingly well for children and adults!!!! Kudos to the creator!!!

[BatenKaitosanime88]

I've JUST started playing the violin and my booklet made it difficult to figure out the bow hold, but this helped alot! :3 my bow hold is still a little shaky but much better than before ^^ thank you very much

[joniguitar9]

Thanks very much...easy, simple instructions for an ABSOLUTE beginner such as myself. I also learned that my bow stick is curved and should be straight along with the horse hairs...right now the bow stick "bows" inward towards the hairs...Uh-oh--I bought it with a used violin and used hard shell case. Joni

[petecooperfiddle]

Glad it was helpful. Even when the bow is tightened the hair should be just a little nearer to the stick in the middle than it is at the ends - it's not a bow-and-arrow bow! Pete

[joniguitar9]

Thanks very much for the info and what about (please!) proper storage in the violin case? I think prior owner stored it wrong..the hairs are towards the outside of the case touching the fuzzy inside of the case---not "inboard" stored. But I cannot turn it around as the shapes inside the case won't accomodate..so am wondering maybe it IS correct! Thanks very much!--Joni

[petecooperfiddle]

@joniguitar9

Any way it fits without forcing it in should be fine - Pete

[346ZackFair]

hey granfather what size did u use violin it is 4/4?

[jobooker]

Clearest explanation I've seen of the bow hold =). Even better than some of my fiddler friends that tried to correct my awful habits. Look forward to more videos =)

[petecooperfiddle]

@jobooker

Thanks - happy fiddling

[ZeroMantus]

Long intro. O_O

[uniprocrastination]

most informative video i've seen on the subject! thanks!

[moodepo21]

The greatest!!!!

[GrammyFiddles]

Thank you, Pete. I've only been "playing" for a week now and your demonstration is clear and just what I needed to see.

[jaylove2beloved4eva]

This was perfect for what my teacher wanted us to see

[gconway4083]

Very nice work Pete - very clear and just what I needed to see

Thank You!

[bmsmith2]

This is the clearest and easiest-to-follow explanation of the proper bow hold that I've ever seen. I'm going to share it with my fiddle students.

Thanks so much!

[thetarafae]

This is the first time I have actually understood the physics and can finally hold the bow properly. I now sound like I can play the viola.... WOW.. Thank you so much.

[braerrabbit]

What's the name of the tune?

[petecooperfiddle]

@braerrabbit

It's a tune called 'Snicket', written by English accordion player Sue Lee. I recorded it on my CD The Savage Hornpipe - more details on my website

[petecooperfiddle]

@braerrabbit

It's a tune called 'Snicket', written by English accordion player Sue Lee. I recorded it on my CD The Savage Hornpipe - more details on my website

[junevi2000]

Many thanks for the tip. This is the best bow hold.

[Nikrou]

youre brilliant!

[candypoker]

thank u

[MrLebanon2008]

Many thanks Pete.... I've seen some Prof make it horrible to learn.... but with you,, it's now a piece of cake ;)

[BooneInAsaka]

Thanks, Pete...I've been trying for ages to get my hold right. That really helped.

[jpbaloga]

thanks a lot, been playing the violin like 7 weeks now and did get the right way how to hold the bow thanks to you

[chingchinglu]

wow! this will really help me!!

[violayla]

I learned so much from you, thank you!

[cteran01]

excellent lesson.. thanks

[arzasmi]

I've got a double jointed thumb and it feels natural being bent backwards and linked with the middle finger. It's weird.

[lynrowe]

thank you, the best yes!

[rubyfaunce]

Best instruction of bow hold I have seen/heard to date.

[randommara]

Thank you!! Awesome video!

[gohjiamin]

great. but i have difficulty holding the bow. its like all the weight is on the last finger causing the last finger to be very stiff..

[katselduran]

love the video. i learned a lot.^^

[Aponijohn]

I'm a fan of Pete Cooper and although I now own a lot of fiddle materials (books authored by different Irish Players), I find his book called the "Mel Bay's Complete Irish Fiddle Player" my favorite of all. By the way, he's English. Thanks Mr. Cooper. you're really a good teacher!

[Moutonetteuh]

<3 merci beaucoup

c'est la seule vidéo sur le maniement de l'archet que j'ai comprise ^^

[petecooperfiddle]

C'est moi...

[Mcshandyce]

Thank you, Pete Cooper.

[96605devil]

great help thks pete

[violinplayer01]

Great! Thanks!!

[tubenone]

thanks Pete!!!

[AbstractOddity]

Thank you!!! I've been playing for nine years and just recently have noticed how it hurts when I play for a long time or very hard so I hope this new bow hold will help me out!

[tullochgorum]

Nice playing - vigorous, rich sound...

[jumaione]

hey.... great idea... i suscribe your lesson... i m try to play violin about 5 weeks... no master ... i hope to learn ...thks

[ireagan]

This is great. Will you be posting more? I'd like to use this to teach my children, as well.

[highrene]

THANKYOUUUUUU!!!!!! after 3 months, i can finally hold the bow properly thanks to you hehe. it feels rather uncomfortable though....is that normal at first?

[vxahaxv]

everything in fiddle is unconfortable at first...

[acossanchez]

Thanks a lot Mr. Cooper, this is exactly want I need; now I have the complete figure of how hold the bow. Hold the violin properly is important in order to make better sound. Thanks again!!!

[brilliantcorners]

Thanks Pete