Violin Bow
Violin Bow
Secrets to Applying Rosin to Your Violin Bow
You may have the experience of picking up a brand new violin bow while in your local violin shop, and attempt to bow the string instrument. Well, you will find that the new bow does not produce any sound at all. Why would this be?
The reason is that all bows are made with horse hair. In its pure form, it is not able to produce any sound when you bow the violin. What you need to do is to rosin the bow. By doing so, you create friction which allows the bow to properly grip the strings and produce sound. Without rosin, the bow cannot grip the strings properly and slides over it like an ice skater skating over ice.
Here, I will guide you on how to apply rosin to your violin bow properly. The way you rosin your bow should be different in different circumstances.
First scenario – when the bow has been just re-haired
If you sent your bow to your local luthier to be re-haired, it may be rosined before it is returned to you. Some shops do not rosin the bow after it has to be re-haired, so you should know how to apply rosin in this scenario. In this case, you will need to use short, targeted strokes to apply the rosin to your newly re-haired bow. Start from one end of the bow and finish at the other end. You may take some time to complete applying rosin on your bow this way.
Second scenario – newly re-haired bow that has been rosined
If you have received your bow from your local luthier and find that it has been rosined, then obviously you will not need to rosin your bow immediately. After playing for a while, you may then rosin your bow the regular way. This is to swipe the entire length of your bow against the rosin couple of times.
Third scenario – when specific sections of your bow do not play evenly
In the situation where you find that certain sections of your bow do not play evenly, even though you have rosined your bow properly, it is certain that that section of your bow has been in contact with oil or dirt. This may be caused by how you hold the bow, it could be that you gripped the centre of the bow with your palms thus transferring oil onto the horsehair of your bow. In this case, you will need to bring your bow back to your local violin shop to be re-haired.
Finally, do take note not to over rosin your bow. If this happens, you will find that there is excess white powder accumulating on your violin strings and especially around the area of the bridge. As such, ensure that you use a soft cloth to wipe off the rosin dust from your violin after each play.
About the Author
Contact <a href=http://stradivaristrings.com>Stradivari Strings</a> if you are looking for a qualified luthier to repair or maintain your instrument. Services offered include bow re-hair, tonal adjustments, repair and restoration. To set up an appointment for a free repair quotation, contact <a href=http://stradivaristrings.com>Stradivari Strings</a> now.
Can you hold a violin bow with a missing pinky and a missing phalange on the ring finger?
I'm a guitar player, with a missing finger and a missing phalange on my right hand, that never bothered me with the guitar, but now I really want to play the violin.
So I bought one, and went to some teachers, but they think you can't play a violin without the almighty pinky.
Information I found on the net tends to agree with these teachers.
Does anyone think it's possible to hold the bow differently? or give any advice.
I had one student years ago, who only had the thumb and index finger on the right hand. She learned to play.
Not to my credit: She figured out how to hold the bow on her own.
If you want to play, give it a try.
From the pictures you can find of a bow grip. Place your thumb as shown and spread the fingers that you have as much as is comfortable.
Good Luck
If you are afraid of dropping the bow, you can attach a short leash from your wrist to the bow.
Violin Bow
Learn Violin! Violin Lesson #1- Holding the Bow (bow hold), pt.1
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How To Choose A Good Violin Bow or Cello Bow
Choosing a good violin or cello bow can be a confusing task, given the wide choice available. A good bow chosen carefully, will complement your violin or cello beautifully. What are the points to note when selecting a bow?
1. Sound and tonal quality
Different bows do create different sound, or tonal quality on the same instrument. This surprises many new, inexperienced players but it is true. The difference may be subtle, but any player (even novice ones) will be able to detect the difference, not to mention the audience.
Typically, a supple bow will produce a smoother and fuller sound. If the bow is too soft, the sound produced may not be clear and defined. A stiffer bow will then produce a brighted, and hence more focused tone.
2. Weight of the bow and its balance
On average, a violin bow weighs about 60 grams, while a viola bow weights 70 rams and a cello bow, 80 grams. This is just indicative. Some bows may weight as little as 54 grams, yet play beautifully.
A bow which is properly balanced, is more important than ensuring that the weight matches the average. One way of selecting your bow is to hold it at a 45 degree angle to have a feel on whether it is well balanced and natural in the hand
3. Octagonal shaped or round bows
If comparing two bows which are made from the same wood, the octagonal shaped one will be stiffer. The stiffer bow will create a hard tone that is one dimensional. However, there are some players who only collect and play on octagonal bows. It is hard to say that one is better than other as picking a bow that is round or octagonal shaped is your personal preference.
4. Structure of the bow
When selecting your bow, ensure that the stick is straight and not curved. You can do an eyeball test by looking down the barrel of the bow. Reject any bow that is curved as this will not deliver the tone and quality of sound you demand.
About the Author
At Stradivari Strings, we take pride in offering you personalized services in selecting your instrument. Whether you are looking to buy your first violin or cello bow, or invest in a handmade investment grade instrument, stradivaristrings.com has the range for you. Check out Stradivari Strings as we also stock a wide range of other instruments including violin bows, cello, cello bow, guitars, saxophone, flute and ukulele.
Violin Bow