wrench13 - Posted - 09/01/2025:  12:25:31

I'm sure RIch or one of you other classical guys will know this. Theres a technique that sounds like short statacco like notes, ascending, and what usually sounds (to me) like its a full scale. Very quick, like 1 or 2 notes in length. I'd like to know what its called and any tips on picking that up, I'd like to add it to my color pallet. It might be bouncing the bow off the strings; if it is, I'm doing it wrong cuz its not sounding like I want.

Lil help here? Show off a bit for an old ear-bound fiddler.

Lonesome Fiddler - Posted - 09/01/2025:  13:58:23

I'm just guessing here, but how about momentarily pressing down and then letting up the targeted string with your left "fretting" hand while doing a single, continuous bow stroke?

Edited by - Lonesome Fiddler on 09/01/2025 13:59:03

ChickenMan - Posted - 09/01/2025:  14:07:12

I know what you're talking about. It's bouncing and it does have a name but I don't know what that is.

farmerjones - Posted - 09/01/2025:  14:40:05

Ricochet bowing. I may be wrong but I'm going over to maestronet and check.

farmerjones - Posted - 09/01/2025:  14:44:04

Ricochet bowing

Now, I don't know if this is what you're referring, but here tiz.

wrench13 - Posted - 09/01/2025:  15:21:19

No I dont think its the ricochet bowing. What I'm hearing has more note in it and is usually used going up to a key melody point, not repeated over and over, like in the video above. Or I'm just an idiot.

DougD - Posted - 09/01/2025:  15:55:34

I'm no classical violinist, but I do know there are several terms for bowing that results in a series of notes in quick succession: Spiccato, sautillé, and jeté (another name for ricochet, and I think maybe a ballet term?) are a few. I have no idea how to do any of them!

NCnotes - Posted - 09/01/2025:  18:29:56

Yea, “spiccato”? Bow is bounced on the strings but with a stroke to it. It feels kinda like making little Us with your bow arm…I find it hard to control and keep even…



Or “detache”? for separate bows with a bit of space sounding between notes. This is a normal bow stroke (no bounce), but just separating the notes a bit more than usual.



I don’t know what the above would be called in fiddling, though!



I don’t really use these techniques much in (Irish) fiddling… are you maybe hearing triplets, which are three quick notes like a mini-scale, going up (or down) to the main melody note. These fast little guys can be done in separate bows or slurred in a bow, depending on what effect you want…



If it’s just a couple of notes, maybe it’s “grace notes” done with quick separate bows? Kinda have to hear, to know what you’re talking about… :-)

Edited by - NCnotes on 09/01/2025 18:30:43

The Violin Beautiful - Posted - 09/01/2025:  21:47:10

For bouncing bow techniques, spiccato is what you tend to see for most continuous passages, but for a smaller burst of notes that are set off by one initial impulse, that’s typically called flying staccato; in the latter technique, the weight of the bow is used to start the bounce, then the notes of the left fingers are timed to the bounces. The bow travels in one direction, not back and forth as in spiccato.

ChickenMan - Posted - 09/02/2025:  08:25:10

quote:

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Originally posted by wrench13

I'm sure RIch or one of you other classical guys will know this. Theres a technique that sounds like short statacco like notes, ascending, and what usually sounds (to me) like its a full scale. Very quick, like 1 or 2 notes in length. I'd like to know what its called and any tips on picking that up, I'd like to add it to my color pallet. It might be bouncing the bow off the strings; if it is, I'm doing it wrong cuz its not sounding like I want.



Lil help here? Show off a bit for an old ear-bound fiddler.

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Got an example?

wrench13 - Posted - 09/02/2025:  12:13:55

Its Spiccato ! Video at 2:07 or so shows what I'm looking for. I'd use this as a lead in for say a G (5-1) double stop within a melodic phrase. If ya gotta learn classical technique, Augustin is not a bad choice for it!



youtu.be/SomGWx531BE



Thanks guys.

Edited by - wrench13 on 09/02/2025 12:14:17