Things You'll Need:
- violin bow
- rosin
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Step 1
Bowling rosin is a white powder that comes in a bag and helps your shoes slide instead of sticking to the floor. Violin rosin comes in a hard block and is designed to help your bow slide across the strings.
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Step 2
If you are bowing across the violin strings and it sounds scratchy instead of clear and ringing, you need more rosin. The rosin will make the bow pull smoother. However, too much rosin will not let the bow have any friction and the sound will be weak. It is not necessary to rosin your bow every time you play.
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Step 3
To rosin the bow. First make sure your bow strings are tighten. If you are using a new cake of rosin, take a nail and scratch the surface. It is hard and smooth and won't get on the strings, unless the surface is broken.
Now, simple let the rosin rest in your left palm (if you are right handed) and run the bow up and down the cake several times. -
Step 4
Close your fingers loosely around the bow as you run it up and down the rosin, just to keep it on track. Never touch the hair on the bow with your fingers. The oil from your hands is not good for the bow hair.
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Step 5
Keep a small hand towel with the violin to wipe it down after playing. The rosin will create white dust on the violin.
