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Well, it's been eight months since I first picked up the fiddle, but I just this week FINALLY got my bow grip down. I decided early on that I wanted to get a handle on the classical grip (pun deffinitly intended), and I've been fighting my hands natural, mind-of-it's-own, inclination ever since.
I would play a phrase or two and then re-adjust my grip. Over........and over...........and over, ad nauseum. It took me a long time to get the bent thumb, but after I finally got that to be second nature, I took it one finger at a time, and finally got the final link, so my little finger isn't splayed out anymore like a toff having tea with the Queen!
It's only been a few days, but I've noticed that my touch is lighter, as my hand is completely relaxed now. I've still got a ton of stuff to work on with both bow and left hand, but now I don't have that small place in my brain, anylizing my bow hold, while I'm working on other things. So now that that small place is free, I can put it to work on some other aspect of esoteric fiddle mineutia.
7 comments on “Zippity Doo Dah”
frogeyes Says:
Sunday, October 4, 2009 @6:24:46 PM
yay!! I Congraulations!! I feel your pain I have alot of issues with my bow grip as well. Its a good feeling once you get it right to the point where you don't have to think about it to much. Good on you
FiddleCat Says:
Monday, October 5, 2009 @2:26:57 AM
I still have issues with my bow hold at times. Laziness mostly. Sometimes bend thumb, other times I don't think about it. Seems like the same amount of effort and sound to me while playing. I guess with the more experience one gets the more one notices the little things that can mean a lot. So getting a bow hold down that really works for you and keeping your hand relaxed is a big accomplishment. Kudo's!!!!!
Arkansas Traveler Says:
Monday, October 5, 2009 @9:14:31 AM
Steve,
Great news... 'ave fun...
'appy fiddlin'
bj Says:
Monday, October 5, 2009 @1:46:34 PM
That is HUGE! You'll find a lot of other little stuff will fall more easily into place now, though now you'll be on the Left Hand / Right Hand seesaw. Once your bow starts working right you can more easily tell how awful your Left Hand is. :-)
mudbug Says:
Monday, October 5, 2009 @3:05:36 PM
Thanks, guys! Yeah, BJ, now I've got my work cut out for me with my left pinkie. Learning fiddle is like peeling an onion, there's always a deeper level, and the sound I get from my pinkie now, is enough to make a grown man cry!
tiquose Says:
Tuesday, October 6, 2009 @7:10:27 PM
I hear you on the pinky issue!
Humbled by this instrument Says:
Friday, October 9, 2009 @7:33:41 PM
I still leave my fingers hanging out, enjoy doing so, and will worry about fixing this very bad habit in about, oh, thirty years.
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