How to Master the Legato Bowing Technique for the Cello

Legato is a musical direction or style of play in which the notes follow one another in a smooth, connected manner with as little break between them as possible. On a bowed stringed instrument such as the cello, legato playing is primarily a matter of bowing technique.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Hold the bow correctly in the right hand. The thumb and fingers should curve gently in a natural position. Bend the thumb at both joints so that it curves. Hold the bow with the finger tips in a firm yet relaxed manner.

2. Rest the bow on the strings about halfway between the bridge and the end of the finger board. Begin with 1 string contacting the bow about an inch from the frog, or the end of the bow where you hold it.

3. Draw your bow hand to the right, pulling the bow across the string to sound a note. Apply enough pressure to keep the bow centered between the end of the fingerboard and the bridge. Make this a long, slow bow stroke. This is the down bow.

4. Push the bow back toward the left when the tip end of the bow is on the string. Make this a long, slow bow stroke. This is the up bow.

5. Practice the transition between the down bow and the up bow strokes over and over again until you can do it so smoothly is sounds almost seamless. Try applying slightly more pressure and a little more speed just before you switch from the down bow to the up bow.

6. Play scales in legato, once you have the hang of it on an open string. When the scales are going smoothly, try legato arpeggios.

7. Introduce tempo changes. Play legato notes of a scale slowly and then try picking up the pace. Do the same for arpeggios.

Tips & Warnings

• When playing notes in rapid succession shorten the bow stroke and play primarily toward the tip of the bow. For volume and power, play toward the frog.
• Experiment with bow tension and rosin applications to see what promotes the best sound for you and your instrument.