So I have a violin bow, but how do you make it work on your guitar? I've been trying but I can't get the sound. How do you grab the bow? Can someone explain me please?

You don't. Jimmy Page does.

Jonsi actually uses a cello bow, probably goes better with the thicker strings. And then he usually just pushes down on the low E string.

Jonsi actually uses a cello bow, probably goes better with the thicker strings. And then he usually just pushes down on the low E string.

That's what I'm trying to do... well I guess I should get violin classes to learn how to grab it :P

But he does something with his finders so you can grab something at the top of the bow correctly, but there's not a video showing how to on youtube, nor google

you just grab the part that's called frog (thicker piece on the end where you tighten the bow's strings) with your fingertips (well, you do this in order to play violin or any of these classical instruments... i cannot try it ...)

 

oh, and a common reason that it won't make any sound is:

you forgot the colophony. sticky stuff that is put on the bow's string. it rises the drag between instrument string and bow. if you move it on the string, it will stay attached on the string and quickly release, and again etc... that happens (depending on tone/note) a couple of hundreds/thousands of times in a second. that's what makes it sound.

also, you need to spend your guitar new strings! they need to be absolutely clean from fat or any of that stuff. means: you may not touch it where the bow is supposed to be. (also, do not touch the bow's strings either!)

 

hope that helped a little to understand...

princesanji, I'm thinking colophony is the same thing is what rosin in here? It serves as a 'grabber' that keeps the bow hair to the string, just like you put chalk on a pool/billiard stick, or gymnists/baseball players/rock climbers put rosin on the hands. Anyone playing a guitar with a bow is doing something out of the ordinary, so I'm guessing the proper grip isn't so complex. But you never know. I only know how to hold a violin bow...

wow this is complicated :confused:

inndeed, colophony = rosin

it's the stuff that enables the string to vibrate by pulling the bow on them

I think you should just get a cello bow lol.