The Bloom Bow
A musical invention by Michael Wade McCullough
A new way to explore sound
Inspired by the expressive world of violin and cello, Michael set out to design a bow that could work on banjo, guitar, and other stringed instruments—without interrupting the natural flow of strumming or fingerpicking. After years of experimenting, refining, and rebuilding, the Bloom Bow was born: a hand-crafted tool that lets musicians move effortlessly between bowing and plucked techniques, opening up a completely new palette of sounds.
The Bloom Bow grew out of Michael’s desire to merge the resonance of bowed instruments with the rhythmic possibilities of banjo and guitar. Classical bows weren’t designed for these instruments, so he began shaping his own solution—testing materials, redesigning the frog, adjusting balance and weight, and eventually creating a custom finger band that allows the bow to be held passively and at the ready while still keeping the hand free to switch between techniques.
The name Bloom Bow reflects both the sonic “bloom” that happens when a bowed note swells and comes alive, and the idea of musical growth—reimagining what familiar instruments can do, and how they can be played. With the Bloom Bow, players can bow, strum, pluck, and return to bowing in an instant, making entirely new combinations and transitions possible.
Each Bloom Bow is hand-built by Michael with care and precision. No two are identical, and every one is crafted to feel natural, intuitive, and inspiring in the hands of the player. Whether you’re a hobbyist, a sound explorer, a traditional musician, or someone searching for a new creative spark, the Bloom Bow opens an entirely new learning journey—one filled with textures, techniques, and sonic possibilities that weren’t achievable before.
Michael also offers personalized lessons to learn how to use the Bloom Bow with
either Banjo or Guitar as well. Proficiency on these instruments is recommended.