How to Use an Ebow for Guitar
By Ritz Camera | Published: 2026-10-22
Category: How-to Guides
Learn how to use an EBow guitar sustainer to create violin-like tones, infinite sustain, and expressive effects. Step-by-step instructions for beginners.
Quick answer
Hold the EBow above the strings near the pickup, let the magnetic field vibrate the string, and control volume with your picking hand—no actual bowing motion needed.
What the EBow does differently
The EBow replaces your guitar pick with a magnetic driver that sustains a single string indefinitely. It mimics the sound of a bowed violin or cello, but with no rosin or physical bow—just a 9-volt battery and careful hand positioning. Because it only excites one string at a time, you cannot strum chords; plan for single-note melodies or lead lines.
Choosing the right pickup and amp settings
The EBow works best with a bridge-position single-coil pickup. If your guitar has humbuckers, use the bridge pickup for a clearer harmonic response. Set your amp to a clean or slightly overdriven tone—too much distortion masks the EBow's natural sustain and creates unwanted feedback.
How to use the EBow: step by step
- 1. Insert a fresh 9-volt battery: Slide open the battery compartment on the EBow and connect a 9-volt battery. Close the cover securely. The unit will not power on until the battery is installed. A weak battery causes intermittent sustain—replace it if the tone drops out mid-note.
- 2. Set your guitar volume and tone: Turn your guitar volume to maximum and set the tone control to about 75% open. This gives the EBow's magnetic field the strongest signal to work with. Roll back the tone for darker, cello-like sounds. Low volume or rolled-off tone reduces the EBow's ability to sustain—keep both high for best results.
- 3. Hold the EBow over the string at the pickup: Grip the EBow like a pen between thumb and index finger. Position the flat bottom directly over the string you want to play, centered above the pickup pole piece. The distance should be about 1–2 mm above the string. Too far away and nothing happens; too close and the string may choke out. Start with a business-card thickness of clearance.
- 4. Pluck the string with your left hand: While holding the EBow steady over the pickup, use your fretting hand to pluck the string. The EBow's magnetic field will immediately catch the vibration and sustain it. Keep your picking hand still—it no longer plucks. Pluck firmly but not hard. If you hear a click or thud, you are hitting the string with the EBow housing—raise it slightly.
- 5. Control volume with your picking hand: Move your right hand (the one not holding the EBow) near the bridge to mute or shape the note. Lightly touching the string behind the bridge creates harmonics; moving your hand closer to the EBow increases volume. Rest your palm on the bridge when you want a clean stop—otherwise the note sustains indefinitely.
- 6. Experiment with angle and position: Tilting the EBow slightly toward the neck produces warmer tones; tilting toward the bridge yields brighter, more cutting sounds. Moving it closer to the neck pickup gives a rounder, bassier voice. Small angle changes make big tonal shifts—practice sweeping the EBow across the string for a wah-like effect.
Product used in this guide
- EBow Guitar E Bow: The EBow is a hand-held electronic bow for guitar that replaces the pick in the right hand, letting the guitarist mimic strings, horns, and woodwinds. You don't need to learn traditional bowing technique—hold it above the string and the magnetic field does the work, giving you instant access to sustained, vocal-like tones.
EBow Guitar E Bow
