How to Use a Bow to Play Viola

Using a bow to produce rich long tones on the violin or viola is a technique to be learned after holding the instrument and producing pizzicato sound is done with ease.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Use the adjustment screw at the base of the frog (opposite end from tip) to tighten the bow hair so there is about 1/2 inch of space between the hair and the bow at its closest point at the bow center.
2. Place the right thumb on the bow at the inside of where the frog moves forward and back.
3. Lay the 3 middle fingers on the outside of the bow with the "pinkie" tip on top of the adjustment screw.
4. Rest the side of the right index finger on top of the bow stick.
5. Try the elevator motion exercise. Move the bow vertically up and down an imaginary elevator shaft allowing the hand to follow the wrist while travelling "up". Shift wrist direction when travelling "down".
6. Place the frog end of bow hair on top of the "G" string halfway between the end of the fingerboard and the bridge.
7. Apply a slight bit of pressure & draw the bow down in a straight line while vibrating the string and stop near the bow tip. This is called a down bow.
8. Move the bow on the same string from the tip to the frog. This is called an up bow.
9. Focus on moving the bow at a medium slow rate, using even bow pressure on the string to produce a steady and sonorous tone.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep the bow hair at the same point of string contact during its traverse.
• Avoid drawing a curved arc when moving the bow up or down. Use the straight line concept remembering the "elevator exercise".