What does up-bow and down-bow mean in music?

Bowing & articulation

Up-bow and down-bow

Also: bowing marks, bow direction

Down-bow moves the bow from frog to tip and is marked with a bracket symbol; up-bow moves from tip to frog and is marked with a V.

The two directions are not equivalent. A down-bow starts with the heavier frog end and the arm's natural weight, so it is stronger and suits accented notes and downbeats, hence the old rule of thumb that a strong beat takes a down-bow. An up-bow arrives at the frog gathering weight, so it naturally shapes a crescendo and suits upbeats and pickups.

In an orchestra, bowings are not left to individuals: the section leader marks the part and everyone matches, because a section bowing in different directions produces visibly and audibly uneven attacks. Learning to read and follow marked bowings is a core ensemble skill, and rewriting them to make a phrase work is a core solo one.

Détaché: Détaché is the basic string bowing in which each note gets its own bow stroke, changing direction between notes while the bow stays on the string.
Bow hold: The bow hold is the way the right hand contacts the bow, a flexible, curved grip that lets the fingers absorb pressure changes rather than locking them out.
Articulation: Articulation is how a note is started, sustained, and released, the markings that distinguish smooth, separated, accented, and shortened notes from one another.
Divisi: Divisi instructs a string section to split into two or more groups playing different notes, rather than every player attempting the written chord alone.

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All 106 terms

Bowing & articulation

Up-bow and down-bow

Also: bowing marks, bow direction

Down-bow moves the bow from frog to tip and is marked with a bracket symbol; up-bow moves from tip to frog and is marked with a V.

Détaché: Détaché is the basic string bowing in which each note gets its own bow stroke, changing direction between notes while the bow stays on the string.
Bow hold: The bow hold is the way the right hand contacts the bow, a flexible, curved grip that lets the fingers absorb pressure changes rather than locking them out.
Articulation: Articulation is how a note is started, sustained, and released, the markings that distinguish smooth, separated, accented, and shortened notes from one another.
Divisi: Divisi instructs a string section to split into two or more groups playing different notes, rather than every player attempting the written chord alone.

Try a short guided practice session

Try a free guided session Already decided? Create a free account

All 106 terms

Related terms

Try a short guided practice session

Related terms

Try a short guided practice session