N A T E S V I O L I N R E F E R E N C E G U I D E

THE 3 BOW VARIABLES

The Three Variables
SPEED

PRESSURE

CONTACT POINT

No variable is more important than another. Some

combinations produce a "crushed" sound, others a

"surfacy" or ponticello sound. In between is the

range of pure tone.

You can't have one without...

THE OTHERS!

If you are playing with a pure tone, you can't

change just one of the three variables without also

changing at least one of the other two. Otherwise,

your sound will turn crushed or surfacy. Look below

to see how the variables depend on each other:

With a constant bow speed:

PRESSURE VS CONTACT POINT

If pressure increases, contact must move closer

(to the bridge)

If pressure decreases, contact must move further

If contact moves closer, pressure must increase

If contact moves further, pressure must decrease

With constant bow pressure:

SPEED VS CONTACT POINT

If speed increases, contact must move further

If speed decreases, contact must move closer

If contact moves closer, speed must decrease

If contact moves further, speed must increase

With a constant contact point:

SPEED VS PRESSURE

If speed increases, pressure must increase

If speed decreases, pressure must decrease

If pressure increases, speed must increase

If pressure decreases, speed must decrease

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