Violin Mutes
Introduction
Introduction
How to Rosin a Violin Bow |
1. How to Rosin a Violin Bow Introduction
2. How to Rosin a Violin Bow - First Time
3. How to Rosin a Violin Bow - Ongoing Process
4. How much Violin Rosin is Enough?
5. How Often should you Rosin your Violin Bow?
6. Can I remove Violin Rosin?
7. Does Violin Rosin Expire?
2. How to Rosin a Violin Bow - First Time
3. How to Rosin a Violin Bow - Ongoing Process
4. How much Violin Rosin is Enough?
5. How Often should you Rosin your Violin Bow?
6. Can I remove Violin Rosin?
7. Does Violin Rosin Expire?
How to Rosin a Violin Bow Introduction
Many people beginners ask exactly how to rosin a violin bow. Applying rosin on your
bow is an important process in playing the violin. If done incorrectly, you can damage
the hair or not have enough violin rosin on your bow to get the optimal sound. The key
is to have the same amount of rosin from the bottom (frog) of the bow to the top (tip) of
the bow. You don’t want so much rosin to where it looks like a cake mix, but want
enough so that the hair grabs the strings nicely.
Here is a detailed look at how to rosin a violin bow correctly. The process will be
different for a bow that has never been rosined, and a violin bow that already has
some rosin worked in.
How to Rosin a Violin Bow - First Time
This means that the violin bow hair should have no previous rosin and be totally
smooth. This process should take about 3-4 minutes.
How to Rosin a Violin Bow - Ongoing Process
This means that some violin rosin has already been worked in. This process should
take only about 10-20 seconds.
How much Violin Rosin is Enough?
It is highly recommended that you never touch the bow hair with your fingers. The oils
from your fingers can cause the hair to have inconsistencies in how they grab the
strings. The only time I touch the hair on a violin is when I am testing how much violin
rosin is on the surface. Some people just play and feel out how much rosin is on the
bow. I personally touch the hair with the back of my index finger towards the bottom of
the bow (never in the middle). Never rub any areas especially in this scenario. If you
touch the hair and you get a totally white mark on the back of your finger, you probably
have to much rosin build up. To fix this problem read the next paragraph. If I touch the
bow hair and there is nothing at all, I might be able to add a little more rosin. Some
people prefer to use their thumb nail instead to prevent any kind of oil from forming on
the bow hair.
How Often should you Rosin your Violin Bow?
Rosin should be applied the most on bows that have no sign of rosin at all. Some violin
bows come with a little rosin on them when you buy them (they have been played
before) and others do not (typically violin outfits that are brand new). If a bow’s hair is
totally smooth, this means it has never been rosined. It would have a silky texture and
feel just like a horse’s hair (which it is).
Once this process is completed, you only have to rosin the bow periodically. How often
you repeat this process varies on the violinist. The more you play the more you will feel
comfortable with how much rosin you like on your bow. Many people like having more
rosin than they should, and put more on every time they play. This ruins the hair
quality and should be avoided. Others don’t put on enough initially and then always
forget to put more on. Both of these scenarios will make the violin sound totally
different in a negative way.
I have definitely had students on both sides of this spectrum. I typically rosin my bow
once every 3-4 times I play, and never have way too much caked on. After playing you
should never have a ton of buildup on your violin strings and fingerboard. This is
usually a sign of too much violin rosin.
Can I remove Violin Rosin?
Removing violin rosin needs to be done very carefully. You can never remove all the
rosin on your bow or even close to half of it. But if you applied just a little too much
rosin there is a way to fix it. Use the tip of your fingernail and gently stoke all of the
hairs from the bottom most point on the back of the bow. Make sure you do this from
the back and not the front. You will see a huge puff cloud of rosin that releases from
the hair. Do this a few times until the puffing remains to a minimum.
Does Violin Rosin Expire?
This is an interesting question that people have different opinions on. I personally go
through rosin fast enough to where I never have any around more than 2 years old.
Some people think that over a few years rosin loses its quality. I have friends that it
seems like they have been using the same rosin since High School. I think its
something not worth worrying about but if you do think your rosin is getting old, then
buy a new one. They really aren’t that expensive.
RELATED TOPICS
What is Violin Rosin?
What is Violin Rosin Used For?
What kind of Violin Rosin should you Buy?
Violin Rosin Reviews
OTHER LINKS
Violinist - Interesting blog on Violin Expiration
Fiddle Hub - How much Rosin Should you Use?
Many people beginners ask exactly how to rosin a violin bow. Applying rosin on your
bow is an important process in playing the violin. If done incorrectly, you can damage
the hair or not have enough violin rosin on your bow to get the optimal sound. The key
is to have the same amount of rosin from the bottom (frog) of the bow to the top (tip) of
the bow. You don’t want so much rosin to where it looks like a cake mix, but want
enough so that the hair grabs the strings nicely.
Here is a detailed look at how to rosin a violin bow correctly. The process will be
different for a bow that has never been rosined, and a violin bow that already has
some rosin worked in.
How to Rosin a Violin Bow - First Time
This means that the violin bow hair should have no previous rosin and be totally
smooth. This process should take about 3-4 minutes.
- Step 1 - Tighten your bow by using the screw that the bottom of the bow.
Tighten to the point to where the bow stick is not totally straight and the bow
hairs are about a pinky length away from the stick.
- Step 2 - If you are using new rosin, scratch the rosin in two different directions
with a key or preferably a nail file. Don’t dig in too much, but make sure when
you just touch it with your fingers there is a light residue that comes off. This will
have to be done less the more times you use the rosin. To get the best use out
of your rosin, stroke the bow hair in different areas across the rosin often.
- Step 3 – It is important when applying rosin not to put too much on to where it
looks like a cake mix! You can always add more but it isn’t so easy to get rid of
it. Hold the stick of the bow (don’t touch the hairs), and begin at the bottom part
of the bow (frog) with short strokes focused just in that one area. Don’t be afraid
to bend the hairs a little bit (dig in). Make your way up the stick until you reach
the top of the bow (tip). Do this for about a minute.
- Step 4 - Now begin using long strokes across the whole bow several times. It
might take about 1-2 minutes for enough rosin to stick on the bow.
How to Rosin a Violin Bow - Ongoing Process
This means that some violin rosin has already been worked in. This process should
take only about 10-20 seconds.
- Steps 1-2 will still be applied from above.
- Apply Step 3 but only do this for 5 seconds.
- Apply Step 4 but only for 10 seconds.
How much Violin Rosin is Enough?
It is highly recommended that you never touch the bow hair with your fingers. The oils
from your fingers can cause the hair to have inconsistencies in how they grab the
strings. The only time I touch the hair on a violin is when I am testing how much violin
rosin is on the surface. Some people just play and feel out how much rosin is on the
bow. I personally touch the hair with the back of my index finger towards the bottom of
the bow (never in the middle). Never rub any areas especially in this scenario. If you
touch the hair and you get a totally white mark on the back of your finger, you probably
have to much rosin build up. To fix this problem read the next paragraph. If I touch the
bow hair and there is nothing at all, I might be able to add a little more rosin. Some
people prefer to use their thumb nail instead to prevent any kind of oil from forming on
the bow hair.
How Often should you Rosin your Violin Bow?
Rosin should be applied the most on bows that have no sign of rosin at all. Some violin
bows come with a little rosin on them when you buy them (they have been played
before) and others do not (typically violin outfits that are brand new). If a bow’s hair is
totally smooth, this means it has never been rosined. It would have a silky texture and
feel just like a horse’s hair (which it is).
Once this process is completed, you only have to rosin the bow periodically. How often
you repeat this process varies on the violinist. The more you play the more you will feel
comfortable with how much rosin you like on your bow. Many people like having more
rosin than they should, and put more on every time they play. This ruins the hair
quality and should be avoided. Others don’t put on enough initially and then always
forget to put more on. Both of these scenarios will make the violin sound totally
different in a negative way.
I have definitely had students on both sides of this spectrum. I typically rosin my bow
once every 3-4 times I play, and never have way too much caked on. After playing you
should never have a ton of buildup on your violin strings and fingerboard. This is
usually a sign of too much violin rosin.
Can I remove Violin Rosin?
Removing violin rosin needs to be done very carefully. You can never remove all the
rosin on your bow or even close to half of it. But if you applied just a little too much
rosin there is a way to fix it. Use the tip of your fingernail and gently stoke all of the
hairs from the bottom most point on the back of the bow. Make sure you do this from
the back and not the front. You will see a huge puff cloud of rosin that releases from
the hair. Do this a few times until the puffing remains to a minimum.
Does Violin Rosin Expire?
This is an interesting question that people have different opinions on. I personally go
through rosin fast enough to where I never have any around more than 2 years old.
Some people think that over a few years rosin loses its quality. I have friends that it
seems like they have been using the same rosin since High School. I think its
something not worth worrying about but if you do think your rosin is getting old, then
buy a new one. They really aren’t that expensive.
RELATED TOPICS
What is Violin Rosin?
What is Violin Rosin Used For?
What kind of Violin Rosin should you Buy?
Violin Rosin Reviews
OTHER LINKS
Violinist - Interesting blog on Violin Expiration
Fiddle Hub - How much Rosin Should you Use?
Learn to Apply Violin Rosin Correctly |