Downbows

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. Movements of a bow directed downward across stringed instruments producing sound ; descending strokes in bowed instruments to emphasize articulation or dynamics ; a technique involving pulling the bow from the upper to the lower part of the strings for musical effect
2. The action of drawing a bow downwards on stringed instrument strings to initiate notes ; controlled lowering strokes performed on bowed instruments to shape musical phrases ; a method of bowing where the hair moves from the tip toward the frog to create sound variations
3. Bowing gestures directed from the upper side to the lower side on string instruments to generate tones ; downward motions with a bow to influence loudness and attack ; the practice of moving the bow from top to bottom on strings for expressive playing

Etymology: "Downbows" is the plural of "downbow", a compound formed from "down" and "bow". The bow in question is the stick strung with horsehair used to play stringed instruments, so the term names the stroke made when that bow travels from the top of the string toward the player's hand, with the hair moving from tip to frog. Musicians use the same plain logic that gives English many of its compound nouns: take a direction word and attach it to the familiar object it describes, and the meaning follows directly from the parts. The plural "downbows" simply counts these strokes or sets of them, as in a violinist's pattern of several downbows in a phrase. Because the word is built transparently from two everyday English words, its origin is no more mysterious than that of "upbow", its opposite, which describes the reverse motion.

Synonyms: downstrokes

Antonyms: upbows