How to Make a Violin Bow Sound Like Water
Making a violin bow sound like water is not the easiest thing to do. A piano, in fact, may be able to re-create sounds that more closely reminds the listener of running water. On the violin, this may be done in an abstract way using the bow and instrument or using only the instrument.
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Instructions
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Using Spicatto
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1
Make a sound evocative of dripping water. Take your instrument and bow and place the bow firmly on the string. Although any string will do, the G-string will be used for illustration purposes.
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2
Play a second finger B on the G-string and then a first finger A in a downbow slur.
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3
Do this several times using a slow spiccato bow technique.
Using Con Legno
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4
Take your instrument and bow, turning your wrist so that the stick of the bow is in contact with the string.
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5
Use the open strings A and E to bounce the stick. This can evoke the sound of water falling on a solid surface like a window pane.
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6
Use the same technique for the lower open strings D and G. When using these strings, a deeper sound more evocative of water falling on something natural like a rock is created.
Using Pizzicato
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7
Take your instrument without the bow. Place the tip of your thumb just under the bottom right corner of the fingerboard comfortably. Arch your fingers over the fingerboard.
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8
Pluck one string using your index finger. Pluck the A, for instance, and play various notes on it. This helps to evoke a rain drop-type of sound. This plucking technique is called pizzicato from the Italian word for plucked.
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9
Play an argeggio at a moderato tempo to symbolize water falling quickly. The arpeggio may go as far up or down the fingerboard as you would like.
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