Cello Bow Hold Guide for Beginners (adult learners)

The largest hurdle adult learners of the cello first face is developing a comfortable, effective bow hold. This is a distilled, comprehensive guide to holding the bow. Everything from a finger-by-finger explanation of the hold itself to numerous exercises to promote flexibility and comfort.
Cello in 30 Days: The Ultimate Beginner Course
www.adultcello.com/courses
Billy Tobenkin is a Los Angeles-based cellist who specializes in teaching adult learners. As a professional cellist who started playing the cello from scratch at 25, he is in a unique position to help others, like him, who found the cello later in life. He has developed strategies from his own musical journey to accelerate the learning process, and he is here to share them with you.
Please contact him at [e-mail] with any questions or comments! Or visit adultcello.com

[@tedmitchell9126]

hello, I started my music journey at 63 yrs of age. It has been a very hard ride but enjoyable. and expensive. I wish I stumbled onto you earlier. Everything you have said so far I have experienced over the past 4 years.. You are helping me regain my confidence and desire to continue. Thank you

[@adultcello]

Hi Ted, thank you so much for your message! There's no question that learning the cello can be a bit arduous feeling at times, but I'm thrilled to hear that you want to continue on your journey! Reading your comment made my day, thank you.

[@basskilla3050]

I'm laughing at myself now, because in your last video I watched about beginning cello playing, and I was INSISTENT on being perfect in my practice concerning vibrato, and now I come over here and watch, and one of the first things you said was NOT TO EXPECT PERFECTION IN THE BEGINNING!!!! LOLOL!! I said to myself "WELP...toss that outta the window!!!!" Its a process like anything else and requires time and patience....So with that being said....I'll just take one day at a time and not expect the phone calls from The London Symphony Orchestra anytime soon.....LOLOL!!!!! THANKS, BRO!!!!!! 💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯

[@Dismythed]

This is the best of your bow hold videos.

[@robleon6368]

This video was very helpful. I started cello close to a year ago and recently I've been having thumb pain in the bow hand and have really been trying to fix my hold (I definitely have too much tension in the thumb and I stretch my fingers out too much). This was an incredibly clear explanation of how to hold the bow and the exercises are very helpful as well.

[@kathymoyer7796]

Please talk to me about the rubber tube on your bow that appears to include parts of the base and spiraling wire. This video is definitely helping my bow hold position/activation. Although I feel like that corner of my thumb is protesting somewhat (even in a flexed position). It appears that yellow rubber piece acts as a cushion for that thumb. Thanks for all you're doing here. Sooo much good information. You are a god-send!

[@boigeorge1149]

I'm really glad this video exists, because I would absolutely have defaulted to the violin hold I learned as a kid.

[@dawnbehm1102]

Thank you so much for taking the time to share all those details about the bow hold. I’ve been teaching myself and have so much to learn. I especially appreciated the ginger exercises, because moving our fingers that way doesn’t come naturally!

[@adultcello]

My pleasure! Thanks so much for your comment!

[@lisasiegel140]

Such a helpful video! I just started cello lessons at the age of 61, and I'm grateful to have found your videos. Will keep watching!

[@adultcello]

Thank you so much for your message, I'm glad you found it helpful! And congrats on starting your cello journey!

[@themiltongroupstudios7943]

I''M Just Starting ,......really enjoy the lessons,,,thanks

[@aetropos3184]

I’m 17 and just got my first cello today! Thank you for your vids

[@adultcello]

That's so exciting, congrats!

[@suzon8855]

Thank you very much for your video. I started 2 weeks ago and my problem is that the bow seems too heavy at the point and the little finger is always crisp. I can't find the balance and after 10 min I must stop to play and it cause pain for few hours. I will try your exercices. I hope they help me because its difficult for me.

[@kimchallis1728]

Thank you so much, Billy. Your explanations are so beautifully detailed and your examples (re world's tiniest doorknob :) ) are so graspable and intuitive. I prefer your lessons to even the paid teachers (and you're more entertaining, to boot!)

[@lelo8976]

I just recently got directed to your KZbin channel and website and have started acquainting myself with the material. I think your work is amazing; it has already helped me a great deal with my cello playing, both the technical and psychological side of things. I have been enjoying great advice from multiple other sources as well, but your way of teaching stands out to me in particular because it seems to match my needs so extraordinarily well. Thank you so much for sharing! I look forward to continue learning from you.

[@adultcello]

Thank you so much for your message, I really appreciate it and am thrilled to hear that you find my videos helpful!

[@DravenKSW]

I started learning at the end of January and my bow hold has been a battle. Especially my thumb, it tends to straighten out and start to hurt. I'm going to try your exercises and see if they help. Thank you!

[@adultcello]

Thanks for watching, I hope they help you!

[@MysticalDragon73]

did they help? Im just starting to learn so Im pouring over everything that I can.

[@mindth3typ0z21]

Hello there @AdultCello! I started playing cello almost a week ago and I’ve had a problem with my bow hold ever since. I’ve been watching online beginner cello lessons all over KZbin. I’ve learnt how to relax my left hand and shape it’s posture in the basic positions on the cello (1st and 2nd), however, I have had no luck trying to find a good solution for the problems in my bowing hand. This video was very helpful in teaching me finger and wrist pronations/postures, also including how to relax the hand - but damn! When I draw the bow across the strings, my bowing hand tends to be uncomfortable and my pinky just looks weird and deforms my whole bowing hand! I’ve tried adjusting the position of my pinky, especially double checking my hand posture, but the bow just keeps slipping and I lose control! I feel like there’s no support when I’m holding the bow and I really need some tips. Do you have any advice on the points of contact of the fingers on the cello bow? Thanks.

[@tycallsky]

It’s definitely hard. Thanks for the clarification and exercises!

[@adultcello]

My pleasure!

[@henryhiguera2659]

I've recently discovered your series and I LOVE it. I've been playing for 3 weeks now--with the bow, when I hold it and relax, the tip goes down and the frog end snuggles up into my palm, either under my thumb or my pinky depending on the angle. But it look like the bow should not be touching my hand, only my fingers. If this is right, how can I achieve this without a pincer-like movement with my thumb and forefinger? And of course that pincer hurts! So I feel stuck. Thanks a million f\or this series!

[@adultcello]

My pleasure! One thing I try to think about is that the bow is going to be resting on the string when your pulling sound, so the job of the fingers and hand is to keep the bow hair in good contact with the string, but that doesn't mean that you have to squeeze the bow with thumb and fingers like a pincer. Hope that helps, and keep working, I'm sure you'll get it sooner rather than later!

[@glouby-ot5zp]

with the pencil exercise, should the upward movement feel like it originates in the knuckle joints or in the thumb?

[@tonyhahn1955]

Thank you so much for this video. I started learning a few weeks ago and I am having problem with the bow hold. I did some searching on the topic on youtube and this video seems one of the best to me. I am trying the exercises, but it's not clear to me how the thumb should look; from the video I can see other fingers well but not the thumb. I try to keep my thumb bended but I can only move the pencil when the thumb is straight. Can you please make a short video showing how the thumb looks during these exercises?

[@adultcello]

Hi Tony, thanks for your comment! I will definitely plan on making another video highlighting the thumb in the near future, thanks for your feedback! For now, when trying the pencil exercise, maybe try bringing the pencil up with a locked thumb, and then when your fingers are already bent, see if you can gently allow your thumb to bend without dropping the pencil. After you can do this, then it might be easier to introduce a slightly bent thumb into the lifting motion. Oh, and make sure your nails are trimmed short enough. At least for me, that makes it easier to maintain a supple thumb. Hope that helps!

[@tonyhahn1955]

@@adultcello Thank you for your nice reply. I am going to try your tip and looking forwards the next video for the thumb.

[@drmarx999]

Okay, here's another bow hold question. Where does the bow intersect the fingers? I've seen players hold it at the first or second joint. Any thoughts?

[@chrisvi85]

I just started two weeks ago and the bow hold is quite challenging still for me. These exercises are challenging as well but I’ll keep practicing! I feel like I am so intent on keeping my thin bent that I feel like I’m pressing too hard as you said in your video, thus causing pain. I also find that as I’m playing on the strings, the bow will start to migrate closer to where my fingers meet my palms and I’m all of a sudden holding my bow like a steak knife. It’s quite frustrating!

[@adultcello]

Hi Christina! I totally understand what you're describing, I remember being there myself. It just takes a bit of patience and persistence, holding the bow is so unlike anything else we do in our daily lives. I think if you spend a few quality, focused minutes a day on the exercises, your fingers and thumb will learn to hold the bow without GRIPPING it....good luck and if you have any questions, feel free to email me at [e-mail].

[@chrisvi85]

@@adultcello thanks so much Billy! I’ve already started binge watching your videos and have subscribed. I really do appreciate sharing your knowledge to us adult learners!

[@adultcello]

@@chrisvi85 My pleasure, thanks so much for subscribing!

[@MLGxProxFaggot]

Thanks for the video and all the others you've made! I've been playing for about half a year now and I've noticed i have a very deep bow hold, where often my fingers will wrap around the bottom of the bow at the edge of the hair and frog and my thumb is lying further in under the stick rather than on the side where the frog and stick meet and is probably closer the being opposite the third finger rather than the second. I'm unsure if this is acceptable or not, cause while it feels quite natural and I feel like I'm channeling the weight of the arm and the bow remains very free to move, it isn't really the traditional bow hold that is usually taught. So I've been wondering lately if this is a hold that works for me or if I'm hindering myself in the long run and should learn to hold it in a more traditional way. Have you seen such a hold in any of your students and do you know if it creates any problems with bow strokes, dynamics, physical tension, etc. or if it is a legitmate alternative way to hold it? Thanks.

[@adultcello]

Thanks so much for your message! From what you describe I do think there's a chance that your current grip will hinder certain techniques, but I understand why you would feel secure holding it that way since it sounds like the top row of knuckles is resting comfortably on the stick of the bow basically all the time. I would suggest experimenting with a more traditional bow hold and seeing if you can find a balance between the fingers and thumb so that it feels as relaxed as your current hold. Hope that helps!

[@MLGxProxFaggot]

@@adultcello Thanks for your response! I've been working on it and i feel like I'm starting to get some kinda grip of it (excuse the pun). I can definitly feel some better control, especially when doing faster and lighter bowings, but it still doesnt feel as stable and I've noticed i can get a little shakey in the hand on the up bows as i try to balance staying relaxed yet applying enough force from the pronation to make a proper sound. Hopefully I'll get more secure as I improve. Have a good day!

[@tadeaszvalasska1823]

I do have some questoins, dear Bill. I´ve been playing in improvisated orchester along with other two cellist, one of them, with 20 years experience was showing me the fingers possition and it was completely different - pinky was on the top of the bow (as you do on the pencil exercise), first finger top was on the hair. Why?! Does he have some middle-european style diffent from english? :-)) He argumented by better balancing the bow (1st finger to left side (D, A strings) and pinky to right side. Anyways, Your style seems more comfortable to me now, except the thumb - can I hold him more deeply in the frog center shape (more closer to eye)? The corner-to-corner possition seems like more effective in operating the bow though. I started learning just a little older that when You did. I wish luck and joy with this godly instrument to all!! :-)) Cheers from Moravia.

[@tadeaszvalasska1823]

Please help me, I´m really struggling about the finger position!! :-((

[@drmarx999]

This is a really helpful video! But, here's my problem: I can do all of the great exercises, yet when I go to play, my index finger won't stay on the leather but goes automatically to the winding. It just might be the shape of my hand? Thanks for all of your help!

[@adultcello]

Hi! My guess would be that the act of actually playing may be causing you to grip a little tighter than would be necessary. Maybe this extra effort in the fingers and thumb is causing your 1st finger to crawl up the stick a bit. Hope that helps!

[@drmarx999]

@@adultcello Many thanks! I'll give it a try!

[@moggyminor64]

I'm struggling with my bow hold because my fingers are double-jointed - my thumb especially bends the wrong way - is there anything I can do to stop it from bending - it makes it really hard to keep my other fingers in place and end up with my pinky straightening and also that joint going the wrong way

[@adultcello]

Hi! I think the best way to deal with a double-jointed thumb is to learn to hold and use the bow without pressing into the stick with the thumb. I know, I know, easier said than done, but if you can develop a grip that is supple and balanced, then your thumb probably won't feel the need to lock itself out the wrong way. Hope that helps!

[@henryhiguera2659]

Like, just where should the weight of the bow be pressing on you?

[@adultcello]

I would say that you should have a supple, flexible hold of the bow and then at the frog you channel the weight of your arm down through your index finger to help the bow maintain a sticky contact with the string. The other fingers help in specific ways, but at the start I would focus on the index finger of the right hand and seeing how you can transfer weight without creating that pincer you mentioned. Hope that helps!

[@henryhiguera2659]

@@adultcello Thanks--this is really helping me think about it and trying to imagine how it should be. I'll keep at your exercises for sure and look forward to watching all your videos.

[@Monomomomono]

my pinky fingers tends to feel collapsed bc im putting much weight on it. any tips on pinky finger positions? :

[@adultcello]

Hi! This is just a guess without seeing your bow hand, but perhaps its a question of learning to hold and move the bow with the weight transferred more towards your 1st finger so that there is just less weight in the pinky in general. Hope that helps!

[@JSWilliamssr]

I play violin and my pinky WANTS to go on top of the frog. It keeps wandering up there!

[@tiscot]

It s so long. I abandoned before the end.