Welcome to our forum. A Message To Our New and Prospective Members . Check out our Forum Rules. Lets keep this forum an enjoyable place to visit.
Check out our 2023 Group Christmas Project HERE
Log In
Register
Home
Topic RSS
(2 votes) 
Offline
So, my teacher has me working on using the full bow and it occured to me: maybe short and/or inconsistent bowing would cause the rosin to wear off more in some places than others. And, if so, maybe that would cause jerking, bouncing or scratching when the string encounters a part of the bow with more rosin.
Do you think/know whether that's true?
When the work's all done and the sun's settin' low,
I pull out my fiddle and I rosin up the bow.
Offline
From my experience no.
You should be able to have as much rosin on the bow as you want. Usually the only trouble is the mess you have to clean up.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
Pro advisor
Regulars
Offline
Your teacher will have you work on long bowing to get used to bowing that way, develop control and consistent tone. When I started playing I only used short strokes and it took forever (seems like) to get into the habit of using "more bow". You will eventually be doing upper half, lower half and other bowings as you progress. More bow equals usually bigger better sound. Unless you already know this, then I will sit up and shut down. 
"Please play some wrong notes, so that we know that you are human" - said to Jascha Heifetz.
Regulars
Offline
If it's any consolation... If I think I might have a little too much rosin on the bow hairs, I just take a soft cloth (clean of course) and wrap it around the hairs of the semi loose bow and wipe them a few times up and back.. it won't hurt anything and you'll be able to feel the drag on the cloth as it cleans off the excess.
Then hit a few strokes with the rosin and you're off to go again.
Long strokes, slow and powerful... great for very nice slurs.
"If you practice with your hands you must practice all day. Practice with your mind and you can accomplish the same amount in minutes." Nathan Milstein
Members
Offline
I usually put on a couple strokes of rosin once a day or so, depending on how much I'm playing. If I'm going to try for a recorded take I may hit it again for a pass or two, but that is probably more "just to be sure". I don't apply more unless notes start actually going silent or sounding super thin.
I usually also tap the bow a couple times after putting on rosin to shake off any excess. Never seen any come off (except when it has been a new bow and I put a lot on), but I figure if there was too much then that would take care of it.
It would make sense that short strokes with the bow or playing mostly in one part of the bow might wear it off from certain areas faster. But I haven't actually noticed that. So maybe I'm just putting it on often enough that it doesn't matter.
"This young wine may have a lot of tannins now, but in 5 or 10 years it is going to be spectacular, despite the fact that right now it tastes like crude oil. You know this is how it is supposed to taste at this stage of development." ~ Itzhak Perlman
King
Regulars
Offline
Unless you're using a CF or Fiberglass bow, tapping is not a good idea, you take a chance of breaking off the tip. Rosin shouldn't come off the hair's by tapping, rosin is a sticky substance. Q: If you apply rosin, why do you want to take it off anyway. 
Members
Offline
I tap the back of the bow with my hand, I don't hit it on anything. I've never seen anything actually come off it, nor do I get much rosin in the instrument other than on the strings a bit.
Why tap it to remove any possible excess? I dunno, just reminds me of chalking a pool cue or something. I mean, why do some people waste time chalking the thing when they just tap or blow it off anyway? They just do.
"This young wine may have a lot of tannins now, but in 5 or 10 years it is going to be spectacular, despite the fact that right now it tastes like crude oil. You know this is how it is supposed to taste at this stage of development." ~ Itzhak Perlman
King
Regulars
Offline
I was playing pool in a bar with a friend, about 40 years ago, I chalked the stick, tapped it on the table edge and my friend asked why did I put chalk on when I just tried to take it off. He said, "you put the stuff on for a reason, don't take it off.... dummy". Same thing there.
Offline
You guys don't want to see what I do to take off the loose rosin dust.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
Regulars
Offline
OK go for it. We want to see how you do it.
Regulars
Offline
HeeeHeee. i'm so interested in all the rosin-related discussions! I rosin my bow REEAALY seldom. It was 2 weeks ago. And i didn't play violin only 4 days in all of those 2 weeks. I learn to play Minuet - Bokkerini, Romance - Baklanova and Elves dance - Jenkinson. All these pieces require different amount of bow space. From shortest (Elves Dance) to longest (Romance). And i didn't noticed any changes in sound while transfer from one piece to another nor feel that i need to rosin the bow yet
I guess that i miss a BIG part of my violin life
Regulars
Offline
Fiddlerman said
You guys don't want to see what I do to take off the loose rosin dust.
have to check first. there may be a law against that kind of activity in these here parts.
I am amazed at how old people of my age are.....
1 Guest(s)
Mouse
tonyluo
ELCBK
