When is it time to rosin or rehair a violin bow?

Learn to recognize the visual and audible clues that it is time to add rosin...or time to rehair your bow! If you like the information given here, come get more at: www.RedDesertVi... Don’t just play, play well!
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[@ynniGoetaM]

As a new student, I found it so helpful to hear what the bow sounds like when it doesn't have enough rosin. Thank you!

[@RedDesertViolin]

Glad it helped. (several people asked, that's why I did it)

[@armchairzen]

Superb explanation of the process of rosin raising the barbs in the hair. Demonstration of the hairs with no rosin was also helpful, and description of the shininess.

[@RedDesertFiddle]

Wow, thank you! I'm really glad it helped. 😊

[@ldsfreelance575]

I have watch so many of these videos and yours is the only one I will save. I learned so much. Thank you

[@RedDesertViolin]

That is so nice of you! Thank you.

[@LaurenHulton]

Very useful and informative for an absolute beginner, thank you so much! I really appreciate the amount of detail you went into 🥰

[@RedDesertViolin]

Lauren, I respect adults who take on violin! BRAVO! KZbin is a great resource. Feel free to ask questions as you go. Lots of people are helpful here!

[@ShibiManiyeri]

What a great video! I was feeling my bow friction getting lesser and lesser and was searching here to see if it’s time to change. And all those doubts I had in mind was completely cleared! Thanks a lot and respect, Ma’am!

[@RedDesertViolin]

I'm so glad it helped! Thank you!

[@johnbentham3485]

Many thanks for doing this video. Of all the violin -related videos on KZbin this must be one of the most useful!

[@RedDesertViolin]

I'm so glad you found it helpful! Keep up the good work!

[@ogstopper]

Such a mine of information for a newbie student! From across the pond, thank you very much.

[@loralynstaples5483]

Thanks ogstopper. I'm really glad it helped you!

[@Fledglinfiddler]

thank you Lora - a great video with really useful information, clearly explaining the mysteries of rosin and its application - I shall be much more confident now regarding the use of rosin

[@RedDesertViolin]

We have had many discussions on types of rosin, haven't we Linda! (did you go with a light rosin?)

[@Fledglinfiddler]

@@RedDesertViolin yes I bought exactly what you recommended - the best one for my climate - Salchow William Light - it is lovely, and now as I said above, following your video I feel very happy with my roisin technique - thank you!!

[@DoghouseFunkBlaster65]

An excellent and comprehensive video from end to end. Most importantly the reasons why these methods are applied are explained as opposed to the usual meaningless 'how to' videos that populate KZbin. Thanks for this!

[@RedDesertViolin]

I always have to have the "why" when I"m learning. Thanks for your input!

[@patfiddles]

Great information- I never knew how the rosin interacted with the hair or that the hair itself could wear out and not hold the rosin effectively! Explains a lot. Thanks very much.

[@RedDesertViolin]

Thanks for watching. Glad it taught you something new!

[@kenya1422]

This was really helpful.

[@RedDesertViolin]

I'm very glad. I wanted to catch it on video before I added rosin. Students need to see and hear it.

[@doodlebug1685]

Thank you so much for this great video! Something sounded off when I was practicing today, so I watched your video and looked at my bow. And there it was- dirty dish water colored hair. I applied the rosin and the problem is solved!

[@loralynstaples5483]

Hooray! Something so simple can make a big difference!

[@RedDesertViolin]

Hooray!!!!!

[@eddiemerribaker]

I’m also a music teacher, and I’m very impressed with your presentation. 🙂

[@RedDesertViolin]

Thank you! 😃 Greetings fellow teacher!

[@PatriciaSpayd]

Thank you Laura! This was perfect and I see I’ve not rosined the sides of the horsehair. Wow.

[@RedDesertViolin]

I'm glad to know you spotted the problem! Fiddle on!

[@aspenx1304]

Such a GREAT lesson. Thank you so much. I work at a music shop and we rent out violins. This info is invaluable to me. I can really educate my customers as well as myself. Thank you. I have a question, I am learning violin myself as well, I am a late beginner, but fosin has always been a mystery to me. How do I pick a good rosin? The market is huge.

[@RedDesertViolin]

Thanks for the kind words! Rosin: dang it, I have written articles about this, but i can't find them now! So here's a nutshell: For DRY climates, go with a dark rosin like Pirastro Oliv. For warmer sound, you can choose a rosin with GOLD in it. For humid climates, I would get a nice AMBER rosin like Salchow. For FIDDLERS, go with a light rosin. Really, any rosin that is about $14-20 per cake is going to be decent. You just have to know what TYPE to get for what use, and so I hope the above guidelines will help you!

[@1mol_wAter]

Oh my god such clear direct video can’t say how much it helped it’s a wonderful video!!

[@RedDesertViolin]

LOL so glad you liked it!

[@maggiecheungblaize8647]

Thank you very much for this informative video. My daughter is a beginner of violin and plau about a year already. My husband just rehair bow and she just rosin it and it sounds great. Thank you again

[@RedDesertViolin]

So happy to help! Thank you for supporting your daughter's musical journey!

[@zıpkın_balık_avı]

Great channel ... good tips all about violin and techniques

[@RedDesertViolin]

Thank you! See you around!

[@emilyduffy6800]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate these tips! My bow is actually at the shop right now getting a rehair, and I'm picking it up tomorrow :>

[@RedDesertViolin]

Glad to hear the tips helped. Sorry I'm so slow to reply! Fiddle on!

[@manuelgustavo6154]

Felicitaciones, muy didáctico, soy Luthier en Colombia y resulta muy útil para mis usuarios, lo recomendaré, Gracias.

[@RedDesertViolin]

¡Gracias! ¡Espero que el vídeo sea útil para tus clientes!

[@ramonl6637]

Laura, thank you so much for the awesome video. I always learn something from you. Question, how much tension you recommend on the bow's hair, or, how you know when the tension is optimal?

[@RedDesertViolin]

Hey Ramon, dang, I should have talked about that! I start as loose as possible, which is: a yellow #2 pencil should touch both the hair and the wood at the narrowest spot in the bow's cambre, or arch. That is about the tension I play with, possibly a tad tighter. But it does depend on preference, and the style you are playing, but that's a good starting point. Thanks for a good question!

[@shipsahoy1793]

Hey thanks for that !! I thought Kennedy gave me the nail clippers to manicure my left hand Haha I didn’t even think about the bow hairs!; I was wondering why my first bow went south so fast.. I was yanking the broken hairs out at the ends! Luckily, I’ve been improving and my upgraded CF bows have been receiving more humane treatment... 👍 Have a great day 🥳

[@RedDesertViolin]

Ahhh! Live and learn, right? I'm sure the nail clippers are also a "mother hen" telling you, "Be sure to keep your nails short!" Keep up the great work!

[@stevegrant1857]

Thanks for the great info

[@RedDesertViolin]

No problem. Thanks for watching!

[@luiz3620]

Great video, thank you very much for all explanations on it... I have a doubt, do we have to clean rosin from the strings before playing or leaving it there makes no difference? If we do, how do you usually do that? Thanks for all, greatings from Brazil!

[@RedDesertViolin]

Hi Luiz, you do NOT have to clean the rosin off. It gets removed gradually from friction on the strings. (that is what the white dust is on your violin and on the strings). After a year or LOTS of playing, the hair can get worn out, and you can get a re-hair. However, some people think the hair is not worn out, but that the ROSIN is caked/embedded into the hair barbs....and that scrubbing it with a dry toothbrush will release the rosin that is packed in it, and it renews the hair. I have never tried it. It sounds like a GREAT experiment before my next rehair. It's worth a try.....it can't hurt! Great question.

[@LudwigvanBeethoven2]

Thanks alot. Now it makes more sense to me after you explained how the bow grabs the string.

[@RedDesertViolin]

Glad it helped. That's how my bow-girl explained it to me years ago. (I was gonna say "bow guy"...but it wasn't a guy, hence "bow girl"....suddenly it seems weird. oh well)

[@juliabendixen2184]

Really great tips! Thank you for sharing your expertise!

[@RedDesertViolin]

You bet. This video was a result of a viewer's question. So thanks to my viewers!

[@sepidehesmaeily]

Thank you

[@RedDesertViolin]

You're welcome

[@dingkexin266]

Love your videos

[@RedDesertViolin]

Thank you!

[@Abeyfranc]

Even the other experts with millions of subscribers didnt explain the way you did. ❤️.

[@RedDesertViolin]

LOL! I have lots of students who ask this question. Thanks for watching!

[@fantineg5769]

Très instructif, merci beaucoup !

[@RedDesertViolin]

You are most welcome. I hope it helps people with the common questions of "when to rehair" and "when to rosin".

[@DieterLo1]

Thanks! Very helpful for a violin beginner like me since few weeks ago,

[@RedDesertViolin]

Great to hear! Keep up the good work!

[@mattruetz6524]

Good video

[@davidhuckaby832]

I notice that after playing a lot and I play a lot of playing by ear with music, that a rosin build up develops on the violin strings like a kind of wax. This build up tends to mute the tone as the string vibration is then hindered from a free wobble. No one has ever addressed this problem, but I will scrape the build up off with my clean fingernail (thumb). This makes a big difference in more of a great tone as the fiddle string is now free to vibrate. The tone can be controlled and manipulated by placement of bow, slight pressure, and speed. I like the slight growl and even the light harmonics depending on the piece. There is a sweet spot in the middle of bridge and fingerboard. The bow seems to be an instrument in itself like the violin playing the bow. I play electric fiddle and love the reverb; like playing in a large amphitheater. I play phone to pairing few JBL speakers with utube music which all blends. The mandolin has same fingering. I started 🎻 in 3rd grade...Im 66yrs old now. I am still learning😜. "Blue Dave".

[@RedDesertViolin]

Awesome, Dave. YOu obviously know alot about the violin! Keep it up!

[@bontrom8]

Is the hair barbed to catch on the down bow? Or perhaps is the hair set half up and half down? New string learner here, trying to get some basics down so I can be useful as a repair tech on all instruments for basic diagnostics.

[@RedDesertViolin]

WOW, your deductive reasoning is amazing. I am almost certain that I heard someone say it was half and half. Nice job!

[@Ysmir.]

Very useful video, thank you!

[@RedDesertViolin]

Glad you enjoyed it! It was fun to show people this rare occurence!

[@lucius79blues]

Hi Lorna, again thanks for the tips you bring, I learn a lot from you, yesterday I watched a violin tutorial that told that when you rosin your strings nerby the bridge improves your sound, I did it and it worked well, how about that? if you have a comment please bring it, I have short time since I started whit violin, but I've notice that your class improves my develop, you are one of my favorite teachers, I'm a guitar player, also piano, but I love violins and chelos sounds, and I hope to get a god level within practicing your lessons. Regards ¡

[@RedDesertViolin]

Hi Lucius! Wow, you are a multi-instrumentalist! Glad my videos help you in your musical endeavors! I have never heard of putting rosin on the strings near the bridge. But if it helps, then go for it. It should not be a problem! Best of luck on all your instruments!

[@kenhuang3820]

I seen Ray Chen suggest use cheap toothbrush after rosin it use the toothbrush gently bursh through the hair instead of taping it, what do you think ahout that method?

[@ricardoalexandres.filipe8272]

Hi Lora Im a starting viola player and Ive been playing for about 9 months. My viola was a set and the bow that came with it doesnt hold rosin anymore I've been playing about 4 to 5 hours a week. I started with Light rosin my teacher gave me dark rosin but even so I play for 10 min and it start skiddling and I have to rosin again. It has rosin but doesnt grip. After seeing this Im positive the hair has worn off. Thank you!

[@loralynstaples5483]

Often the hair that comes on a bow (with an instrument package) is very downgraded.....I'm sure you need a rehair!

[@DivaDeb1234]

Thanks !!

[@RedDesertViolin]

Welcome!

[@lachu1047]

Thankyou so much mam... GOD Bless you...

[@RedDesertViolin]

Thank you!

[@lynngarbay819]

Do you pply rosin when the bow is tightened or loosened?

[@ChrisEbbrsen]

Which is better for deep cleaning of bow hairs? Wood alcohol or denatured alcohol? Thanx for any help.

[@RedDesertFiddle]

I honestly have no idea....I have never tried cleaning the hair....I just get re-hairs. But I bet it would save alot of money if cleaning it really does restore it.

[@brendachatterjee1758]

Such fun to watch . You make me laugh 🤗 Bren

[@RedDesertViolin]

Well.....I have been accused of being funny even when I'm not trying! I'm happy to provide a laugh! ;-P

[@sasha42196]

Don't forget to wash your hands after handling rosin. Also, I always wipe the strings, fingerboard under the strings, and the belly (not mine, the violin) with a cloth to remove rosin dust every time after I am done playing.

[@RedDesertViolin]

LOL.....good thing you clarified that we should not rub our belly! ;-P

[@sasha42196]

@@RedDesertViolin If someone wants to rosin or wipe their belly, it's a private matter.

[@ronaldmartin2065]

Oraly!! Audibly is the word!

[@RedDesertViolin]

Sometimes I can't think of the word on the spot!!! If you could only see the number of times I pause a camera, and consult Google thesaurus to find a word. YES, "audibly" is a much better choice!

[@lu0844]

I bought a carbon fiber bow, and don't like the sound, I guess I need to play a lot with it till the hair breaks in. Thanks for this video, you always post interesting content that not many teachers post, but students are always wondering about

[@RedDesertViolin]

Unless you spent at least $600 on the bow, it probably has quite cheap hair on it. But yeah, break it in, see what you can do with it, and if it doesn't improve, you might consider getting a better hair job. (balancing the value of the bow against the cost of a rehair) I have VERY curious private students......their questions give me ideas for videos! LOL

[@chriskelly9653]

I watched the video on rosin and on one of my bows the horse hair looks a bit yellow not white so I rosined as you said and the sound seems good just seem to notice rosin coming in off onto the strings as I bow and into the air around the string being bowed , might I have a bit too much on I wonder .

[@RedDesertViolin]

Yes, you probably got a little too much, but sometimes that is necessary if you've gone too long without adequate rosin. If it's sending dust into the air, I would suspect you have LIGHT rosin. I like the darker rosins....Pirastro Oliv, Salchow, ambers and blacks. (I like my rosin like my beer...)

[@chriskelly9653]

Yeah up here in Newfoundland our air humidity can swing in a couple of days depending on weather systems but yes I have both dark and light rosins and two different bows and have been trying both bows with the different rosins to see if I get a different sound.

[@lifewithjimmy4389]

I understand what you’re saying about this topic but when do you know when it’s time to change your strings? I practice every day for two hours each day and after I’ve been practicing at that rate, which I don’t think it’s a lot, I feel like by about the end of the second week or the third week I start to sound “metallicky”if that makes any sense.? I find that I am trying to put more Rozen on it and then the Rozen is just getting kicked up on the strings and then I’m wiping the strings off. How often should we be changing our strings and is there a certain sound that you will hear when it’s time? I really appreciate it because I have been spending a lot of money on Rozen and strings and all the extras that come along with the violin. LOL

[@RedDesertViolin]

I think 2 hours per day is quite a bit. Professionals play more hours, but 2 hours daily is significant. At that pace, I would advise you to change your strings every 5 months. That's a rough guess. And sometimes, I save money by just getting a new A and E string, and leave the old D and G on for a few more months. The metallicky sound.....I'm not sure what that is, but it sounds like excessive rosin to me. (what strings are you using?) Here's the dead giveaway for when you need to change strings: Try to remember how crisp and complex the strings sound when they are brand new. As they wear out, they lose that cripsness and complexity.....and so it sounds dull, muddy, and blah. And you will start working MUCH HARDER in your playing. It takes experience to learn to recognize, so for now, just change your strings every 4-5 months....and you will learn.

[@lifewithjimmy4389]

Red Desert Violin thank you!!😃👌I think I apply too much rosin. I see it collecting on the strings and then I’m wiping it off.... i really appreciate your help and getting back to me quickly!! I have to go n see what brand strings I’m using and I’ll let you know. 😃thank u again!!❤️😃

[@lifewithjimmy4389]

Red Desert Violin the strings I have used are Amola v-702.strings. Then I switched to Alice violin strings A-703 steel core. And now I’m using prelude D’Addario medium steel core- med. tension. But I have used another string I can’t remember the name of them but they had a “pearlon” core? I can’t remember the name but they were over 30 dollars a set. I don’t feel like I am getting that warm sultry sound that I am looking for. I am also playing on an electric violin. It’s not a Yamaha it’s a EB electric violin series E4. Cost was somewhere around $400.

[@xiaoleideng]

Hi Lora, When I get too much rosin I am starting to make a scratchy/grainy/hissing bow noise especially on higher positions on my A and E strings. When I turn my bow backwards, using the part close to myself, the problem ceased to exist. Do you think it is bad rosin, too much rosin, or time to get a rehair? Thanks!

[@RedDesertViolin]

Hi Xiaoleideng, I don't quite understand what you mean when you say you "turned your bow backwards", so I'll make an educated guess. I would try a DARKER rosin, because it will will not coat your strings with white crunchy residue. Also try to scrape off your strings, and clean them with alcohol to get all rosin off your strings. If that doesn't help, you can try to clean your horse hair with a clean toothbrush. First brush it out with the dry bristles. THEN, use denatured alcohol, you can clean the hair even MORE. This helps to remove excess rosin. It that doesn't work, then you DEFINITELY need a rehair. (If it's been more than 2 years since a rehair, skip the cleaning, and just get a rehair) Good luck!

[@xiaoleideng]

@@RedDesertViolin Thank you for the detailed reply! It turned out to be rosin. I learned the hardway not to scratch the surface of a rosin cake with car key. I think some bits and pieces got caught in the hair and made the scratchy noise.

[@RedDesertViolin]

@@xiaoleideng Ah Ha! THat makes sense now that it was only when the bow was tilted. Well, live and learn. Thanks for letting me know. I"m glad you solved it!

[@darianburkhart752]

Did you get different pegs on your violin than before?

[@RedDesertViolin]

You are observant! I started with black pegs, but switched to boxwood after an attempt at using mechanical pegs backfired badly.

[@darianburkhart752]

@@RedDesertViolin haha. Understand that. They're nice. But I'm biased because I prefer boxwood fittings.

[@raymondblacklock]

without rosin it won't be sticky....the hair used comes from horse in cold climates...Mongolia

[@RedDesertViolin]

Exactly. Yes, the best quality hair comes from Mongolia...but as Mongolia gets more and more industrialized, the quality of the hair is less consistent.

[@lucius79blues]

Sorry if I changed your name Lora ¡

[@RedDesertViolin]

:-)

[@webadage]

Oftener? lol

[@RedDesertViolin]

Who knows what happens to my English when filming.....:-/

[@M_SC]

Nothing wrong with oftener