Editing Double bass (section)

====German bow====
[[File:German bow2.jpg|left|thumb|German-style bow]]
The German bow (sometimes called the Butler bow) is the older of the two designs. The design of the bow and the manner of holding it descend from the older viol instrument family. With older viols, before [[Bow (music)|frogs]] had screw threads to tighten the bow, players held the bow with two fingers between the stick and the hair to maintain tension of the hair.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicolog.com/violadagamba.asp |title=Viola da Gamba |publisher=musicolog.com |access-date=15 July 2012}}</ref> Proponents of the use of German bow claim that the German bow is easier to use for heavy strokes that require a lot of power.

Compared to the French bow, the German bow has a taller frog, and the player holds it with the palm angled upwards, as with the upright members of the viol family. When held in the traditionally correct manner, the thumb applies the necessary power to generate the desired sound. The index finger meets the bow at the point where the frog meets the stick. The index finger also applies an upward torque to the frog when tilting the bow. The little finger (or "pinky") supports the frog from underneath, while the ring finger and middle finger rest in the space between the hair and the shaft.