Properly Using Rosin On The Bow's Hair

Anyone who plays the violin is familiar with rosin. Rosin is a tree sap or resin that came from pines, firs, and other conifer plants which contains abietic, caustic alkalis, and resin acids. Rosin has many uses even in the food and pharmaceutical industry, but most can usually hear this from a violin or cello enthusiast. This used on the bow hair to improve the bow's grip on the strings when you strike a note. Several substances are also added to this to enhance its properties in providing friction. Some of these includes gold, silver, iron, and beeswax.

The rosin is typically applied to stringed instruments like the violin and cello. However, practically knowing the amount of rosin to apply on a bow's hair depends on the instrument used. The golden rule in rosin application is that larger instruments should use a small amount of rosin. The diameter of the strings is also a determining factor in choosing the right rosin for the violin or cello.

In layman's term, the rosin is what makes the bow a bit sticky so that it has more friction to produce a full sound. Without this, the bow will just slide over the strings and not a musical note can be produced. The process of manufacturing rosin is somewhat the same as how the maple syrup is gathered, heated, and the purified. The friction created by the rosin makes the bow grip on the string better to create vibration and eventually a valid musical sound.

There are several types of rosin that a violinist should know. The color of the rosin matters for the fact that the darker the color of it, the softer the results are. Lighter colored ones may be stickier compared to the darker ones, however, too much of a sticky rosin can produce a coarser sound.

Eventually as you get to know more about the violin's basics, the choice and application of rosin may just be a breeze. Nonetheless, most violinists combine a couple of rosins and even some other materials such as beeswax to achieve the sound quality that they like. Applying an even coat to the stretch of the bow's hair is also another essential pointer to take note. Then just tap off any excess rosin on the hair before using it. Every time you are done using the instrument, make sure you wipe the instrument including the strings and the parts surrounding it to prevent rosin accumulation which could dry off and become brittle.

The Author is an expert musician and writer that enjoys playing string instruments and writing about the Violin Bow and Rosin