Learning the Cello - String Crossing

  Bow arm motions - staccato - detache' - spiccato - full bow legato

String crossing can be a confusing topic. Here are some reasons why:

• You get from one string to another by using greater or lesser amounts of finger, hand, forearm and whole arm motion. 
• The particular muscles you use (or don't use) to do a string crossing are important because if you use the wrong ones, you will be in trouble! Your body will be fighting you - you'll get tense and you won't get the sound you want.
• How to get from one string to another is also dependent on the tempo, the number of strings you are crossing and the part of the bow you are in. 

So... how does one figure this out?

First, you need to understand the 4 hinges of your arm. 

1. Whole arm moving from the shoulder joint
2. Forearm moving from the elbow
3. Hand moving from the wrist
4. Fingers moving from the hand

Start with the largest muscles first. Play a staccato note on one string. After your bow comes to a stop, raise or lower your whole arm as one unit (be careful not to raise the shoulder). You also have to move your arm a bit forward when you go to a higher string, or a bit closer to your body if you are going to a lower string. This allows the bow to be perpendicular to the new string before playing the new string.

(video)