The Right Hand: Learning to Play with the "German Bow" part 1

When I was 17, my parents bought me a double bass. 

Instead of a lengthy auto-biography let's get right to the point.

I am teaching myself how to play with a "German" bow. While I do understand - and believe - that terminology matters (how were think is everything), unless we are imbroglio-ed by the terminology thus some obstruction blocks our playing, the terminology hardly matters at all. I guess... it matters when it matters and doesn't when it doesn't. Helpful, I know. 

What comes first and foremost is the "hold" or "grip." 

I prefer the term "under handed" rather than "German". That is getting into terminology, so again... let us not get stuck at the thresh hold but enter.

I have a "German" bow, which I've owned since I started playing bass. It's a no name plastic disaster from Guitar Center or maybe - the gone but not forgotten - Sam Ash. I started college playing on this bow and quickly moved to "French bow". Now, 20 years later, I am re-learning this bowing approach.

HOW DO I HOLD THE DAMN THING. 

I asked friends, colleagues, and have been watching youtube videos. 

Here are some excellent resources that I've found very useful.

The absolute most musical and virtuosic german bow bassist I have ever heard in person: Joel Quarrington. I played for Joel in a masterclass when I was a graduate student at the University of Georgia.

 https://youtube.com/shorts/l80404iYEEw?si=to5pllMWNHz01eVO

https://youtube.com/shorts/6nqbaNrim8E?si=6WJgvPyF9XhxuzXZ

The second master is a video by the dear Michael Klinghoffer, who I had the pleasure of meeting and taking a lesson with in 2015 while I was singing at the Detroit Opera in a production of Die Passegerin.

https://youtu.be/ZZA9kE06SVM?si=J8Vptw07HVCmOrGc&t=54

The inimitable Thomas Martin, who I also had the pleasure of playing for in a master class while an undergraduate student at  S.U.N.Y. Purchase.

https://youtu.be/y4Ea49TGj1g?si=nGFuNcztaAnmGsBw&t=175

Here are some detailed insights from David Allen Moore

https://youtu.be/CvTigqfUR_E?si=6VFqajP2XwGeFPnQ&t=257

https://youtu.be/snONbEinP3w?si=AmbwY3LAFzNEA1tL&t=48

While I've never met him, Associate Principal Double Bass Dušan Walkowicz of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, has a rather clear and dry video worth watching.

https://youtu.be/cqi2AZ9tq4c?si=BjARDNOreaivVqsg&t=42 

Lastly, Barry Green has some helpful observations in his book, Advanced Techniques of Double Bass Playing