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Top 6 Reasons Your Violin Bow Changes Aren't Smooth (And How to Fix Them)

Struggling with choppy violin bow changes? Those jerky transitions killing your legato? In this subscriber-requested guide from Kennedy Violins, Joel Kennedy shares the top 6 reasons your bow changes aren’t smooth—plus targeted exercises to fix each one.

Why Smooth Bow Changes Matter

Tension is your enemy. Relaxation is your friend. Extra muscle effort makes bow changes harder. Clean up these six common habits and your legato will improve fast.

Top 6 Reasons for Choppy Violin Bow Changes

# Problem Fix Exercise
1 Raised Shoulder Keep shoulder relaxed and down Mirror check on slow up-bows at the frog
2 Elbow–Wrist Misalignment Elbow and wrist stay on the same plane Straight-bow “laser line” check
3 Tight Bow Fingers Round pinky, flexible thumb Collé bow-hold drills
4 Flat Hair at Frog Tilt bow slightly away at the frog Frog-only strokes
5 No Weight Release Momentarily lighten at the bow change Release pulse at each change
6 Crooked Bow Keep bow parallel to the bridge Elbow hinge open / close drill

Detailed Fixes: #1–6 Smooth Bow Change Solutions

1. Stop Raising Your Bow-Arm Shoulder

Problem: The shoulder creeps up at the frog (especially on up-bows).

Fix: Keep the shoulder in its natural, relaxed position—like when you’re standing normally.

EXERCISE: Mirror Practice

  • Play slow up-bows to the frog
  • Watch your shoulder and keep it down
  • 4 beats per bow, 10 reps

2. Align Elbow with Wrist

Problem: The elbow drops (often on E-string up-bows).

Fix: Keep your elbow and wrist on the same horizontal plane.

EXERCISE: Straight-Line Check

  • If you use a “laser pointer” setup, the dot should travel straight across the strings
  • 60 BPM, 8 reps per string

3. Relax Your Bow Fingers

Problem: Locked pinky knuckle and a stiff, straight thumb.

Fix: Round pinky + flexible thumb = fewer locked joints.

Wrong Right
Straight pinky Curved pinky on the stick
Locked thumb Bent thumb (changes slightly by bow position)

EXERCISE: Collé Hold

  • Hold the bow with relaxed fingers
  • Gently shake your hand loose (no death grip)
  • 20 seconds × 5 sets

4. Tilt the Bow at the Extreme Frog

Problem: Flat hair can cause the thumb to bump the strings and create bounce.

Fix: Tilt the bow slightly away from you at the frog.

EXERCISE: Frog Focus

  • Up-bow to the extreme frog only
  • Tilt about 10–15° away
  • Hold 4 beats, 15 reps

5. Release Weight at Bow Changes

Problem: Constant pressure creates scratchy, tense changes.

Fix: Momentarily lighten at the change (many players feel this as a quick release in the upper arm/bicep line).

EXERCISE: Release Pulse

  • Slow bow changes at 60 BPM
  • Release slightly on the “and” of the beat, then reapply immediately
  • 2 minutes continuous

6. Keep Your Bow Straight

Problem: A locked elbow often leads to a crooked bow (drifting over the fingerboard).

Fix: Use the elbow hinge so the bow stays parallel to the bridge.

EXERCISE: Two-Part Arm

  • Down-bow: upper arm leads, forearm follows
  • Up-bow: forearm leads, upper arm follows
  • Metronome 50 BPM, 10 reps each

Complete Practice Routine: 15-Minute Daily Fix

  1. Minutes 1–3: Identify your #1 culprit (record yourself if possible).
  2. Minutes 4–10: Slow open-string bows (40 BPM)
    1-2-3-4 | 1-2-3-4 (focus on your fix)
  3. Minutes 11–13: Simple scale (D major)
    2-3-4 | 2-3-4 (keep the same focus)
  4. Minutes 14–15: Slow melody (e.g., Bach “Air”) and apply smooth changes.