Q&A for How to Rosin a Bow

When I rosin my bow, I imagine that the rosin is the violin. I like to hold the rosin in my left hand and then hold the bow in my right. Then, I pretend as if I'm bowing the violin right into the rosin. It really works to add the rosin perfectly and efficiently.

The rosin improves the sound of the violin and does not soften in warm weather.

Usually I like to replace mine if they get physically deformed in any way, but otherwise about every four years.

Rosin is the only appropriate thing to use.

You will see dust in the air. It will also impair the sound quality, so you should be able to hear it.

Light rosin creates a smoother sound, while dark rosin tends to create louder and bolder sound. Neither one is better, it depends on what you prefer and/or what the composition calls for.

Rosin helps to create a good sound, as it grips the strings of the violin. However, if you are pressing too hard or too softly, that could also be the problem.

No. Please don't do that, as the rosin will melt and become gloopy. Think for a second how it will apply when gloopy.

If you don't rosin it, you won't get much tune coming from your instrument. That's why you don't want to touch the hairs on your bow because it will get your bow oily and then you will barely have a tune.

These are general guidelines. You can rosin back and forth a large distance, or a short distance. The idea is to make sure you get enough rosin at every part of the bow.

The hair should start out close to the curve of the bow in the middle. As you tighten the bow, the wood should start to straighten out and move away from the hair, so it is becoming a wider gap as you tighten. You don't want to tighten so much that the bow becomes straight. It seems like your bow is not curved correctly so you might want to take it to a violin maker to get checked out.

If your bow hair is new, you may need to put three times as much or more rosin on it on the first time. Find out if the technician applied a primer coat of rosin before over-application. (This is from the tips section of this article.)

You can, but usually you only need to scratch the rosin if it is of poor quality.

Rosin dust will get everywhere and your bow will be too slippery.

Hit the tip of your bow against the palm of your opposite hand to remove excess rosin. The rest will work its way off as you play.

No, because that side of the hair doesn't come in contact with the strings.

It may, but certain types of rosin are naturally softer or harder than others. You may wish to talk to musicians in your area to find out if you might want to switch to a darker or softer rosin if you are playing in a cold climate.

Rosin is relatively stable as an organic compound, so you should be able to use it as long as it hasn't been left out open or exposed to other chemicals/water. If you notice a change in the sound quality, it could mean the rosin has aged from exposure.

Use the rosin when your violin sounds quiet while playing. You'll hear when you need to apply it.

Never ever do that. A good rosin should start dusting on its own when you swipe the bow across.

If the rosin is good, it should apply to the bow even if it seems hard to the eyes or the touch. If it isn't applying when you try, then you might want to get a better piece.

You can buy rosin online on Amazon.com or at any local music store!

You might have to change your bow hairs, do not pile on more and more rosin. If your bow is turning into a dark mustard/brown color, it is time to change your bow hairs. Visit a local music store to ask for more information.

Store your rosin in a cool, dark place, such as inside your instrument case. If it seems too dry, use a utility knife or a cheese grater to remove the top layer.

The finish is the shiny coating on an instrument. Rosin falls off your bow onto the top of the instrument when you play the strings, and it looks like a white powder. If you don't clean it off (by wiping it off gently with a clean microfiber or flannel cloth), it can build up in layers over time, discoloring the finish/varnish and causing a bumpy texture to form.

It depends. You might have to only clean the cello strings. Check the texture and sound.

Sure. You probably should get another one as soon as you can, though - a smaller piece means your hands are more likely to come in contact with the bow's hair.

Despite popular opinion, most modern rosins do not need to be scored or sanded in any way, shape, or form. It can damage the rosin. You should do your research on the brand you have bought to see if it needs to be scored, but it is very likely that it does not need to be sanded down.

Either dark or light will work. I have used dark rosin only on my violin and it has worked just fine for me.

If the bow has never been rosined, it won't make any sound. If it just hasn't been rosined recently, it will make uneven sound. Either way, the lack of rosin isn't likely to cause the bow to break.