Violin Lessons : Class 11 - Mastering the Straight Bow

When you play the violin, it is important that your bow glides at a 90 degrees angle with the string or parallel with the bridge. Before you proceed to this lesson, make sure that you have mastered the previous violin lessons.

In this violin lesson, we are going to learn proper wrist movement. The key to playing with a straight bow is to move your wrist as you glide the bow over the string. At this point there should be two locks. The first lock is between your forearm and upper arm. They should be kept at right angles. The second lock is between your hand and the bow. The bow and your fingers should be constantly at almost a right angle. Your wrist should be kept flexible. Practice playing a straight bow over an open string.

Violin Lessons : Class 2 - How to Hold the Bow 2

Now that you have got a grip of the Bow Hold, its time to try in out on a real bow. This lesson may be the easiest of all violin lessons but it is also among the most important among all violin lessons, the first three classes will be the most important, so it is vital that you get really familiar with the hold.



The base of the bow (where you hold it) is commonly known as the Frog. There is a curve at the Frog. Your thumb is to rest about half an inch in front of the curve, between the bow and the hairs. The middle and ring finger is to rest right above the thumb (above the bow). The bow should rest on the first crease of your middle and ring finger.

It may be a little difficult to hold at first because the bow may feel heavy. For practice, you can support the weight with your left hand. Your index finger is to rest on the metal part of the grip and your little finger should rest on the dot on the side of the Frog. For practice you can hold on to the bow in this position and move about to strengthen your hold.

Violin Lessons : Class 1 - How to Hold the Bow

Before you start your violin lessons, it is best that you buy yourself a violin so that you can practice at home. If this is your first violin, buying one should be relatively. It is best that you get the cheapest one as you wouldn’t need a really good one until the third year (and also just in case you suddenly decide that violin lessons are not the instrument for you.

All violin lessons should begin with holding the bow. Although this might sound simple, it is important that you get it right at an early stage.There are many ways to hold a bow, but I am going to show you how I have been taught and how I have been using it for the past 20 years. Generally, you usually use your right hand to hold the bow. You use your thumb, middle finger and your ring finger to hold the bow. Imagine doing an ‘OK’ sign with these three fingers. Instead of putting all the fingertips together, the tip of your thumb should be resting between the ring and middle finger, around the first crease.

Throughout my many violin lessons in the past, I have been taught many ways but found this method to be the most comfortable. You can practice holding a bow with a pencil or stick.