bow grip

English

The heel of a bow showing the frog and the bow grip.

An example of a cello bow grip.

Alternative forms

• bow-grip
• bowgrip

Noun

bow grip (plural bow grips)

1. (music, lutherie) The small section of a stringed instrument's bow near the heel having grippy material such as goatskin leather or snakeskin wrapped tightly around the bow stick between the lapping and the frog, so as to facilitate it being held and to protect the stick.

   I need a re-hair and a new bow grip but I can't afford either.

2. (music) The refined and precise manner of holding the bow of a bowed string instrument.

   Improving your bow grip is one of the most challenging aspects of learning to play the violin.

Synonyms

• (manner of holding a bow): bow hold
• (grip): grip, thumb grip, thumb leather

Translations

section of grippy material

• French: poussette (fr) f, poucette (fr) f

manner of holding a bow — see bow hold

See also

• frog