Next Level Bassist SPRING 2015

GET A GRIP
GERMAN
STYLE
1. Two fingers on top, free thumb: A
sense of the arm weight hanging on the
two fingers, along with full bow weight.
Wrist is relaxed. Works well. It's only
as strong as the two fingers, however.
2. Like the previous, but only the first
finger applies the weight: A lot to ask
of that one finger. Good in conjunction
with the two finger grip when less bow
pressure is needed (even less when using
only the third finger). With a small frog,
the third finger will rest against the lower
inside near the ferrule and may be able
to assist in applying weight to the string.
3. Two fingers on top, assisted by the
thumb on the stick: The added thumb
stabilizes and increases hold on the stick,
improving the ability to manipulate it in
off-the-string (spiccato) playing.
Not necessarily stronger than two fingers
only, because the thumb robs some
power from the two fingers while not
applying much itself. There's more of
a sense of whole-hand weight.
4. One finger on top and thumb on top:
The thumb applies most of the pressure
while the first finger stabilizes. The
second finger on the side of the stick
adds sensory perception.
5. Fingers on top, thumb buried under
first finger: Produces a strong, heavy
spiccato at the frog. This is because
the fingers are further back toward the
frog, moving the balance point in that
direction, and the hold on the stick is
very good. Most of the arm weight is
applied by the fingers, while the thumb
is pretty much sandwiched against the
stick. The drawback seems to be not
enough feel of the stick and not enough
power over the length of the stick.
6. Side of the thumb on top along stick,
fingers on side (or tip of first finger on
top): Good transfer of weight to whole
stick. Heavy spiccato is a little weak.
Thumb feels a little strained.
7. Similar to (6), but the thumb is less on
its side, more on its tip: The hand feels
more relaxed than (6), with good overall
stick feel. Not real powerful.
8. Thumb on top along stick, frog deep
in hand: Good heavy spiccato. Overall,
it feels weak and strained because the
wrist is forced into bending.
9. Thumb along stick, frog very deep in
hand, wrist very bent: Very on-the-string
feeling, because the arm and wrist are
totally tense. I can't recommend this.
10. Straight thumb, bow further out in
fingers and thumb: Bow arm is longer.
Good direct transfer of arm weight to
stick through thumb. However, it seems
weak for two reasons: it's held further
out in the fingers, and there seems
to be little ability to apply leverage
through pronation.
11. Thumb wraps over stick at about
45 degree angle, stick not completely
deep in the hand. This provides strong
and direct weight transfer from arm to
thumb, along with good pronation power
and a mostly straight wrist. Good hold
of stick enables excellent manipulation
for spiccato strokes. A callous should
develop where the stick presses against
the side of the first knuckle. This is my
favorite and what I have adopted.
6 SPRING 2015 NEXT LEVEL BASSIST
SPRING 2015 NEXT LEVEL BASSIST 7