Essential info about violin bows - we are passionate about them!Aah - violin bows. Any bow will do? Wrong! Bows are as important as the violin. You can't play without one - and its important to find a bow that suits you and your instrument. Here are some things you might want to think about.
Size Like violins, bows came in different sizes - so if you are buying a bow for a child you will want a little violin and a little bow to match. Most violin kits will come with a bow of the right size. But check it is straight and true. And keep it in good condition - no overtightening it or it will lose its spring. (For advice on tightening the bow see the section below) If your violin hasn't come with a bow - or you need a new one for some reason, you can buy smaller bows but there often isn't a fantastic selection. If you are a growing child you may not want to spend a lot so try some out and pick the one you like the best.
Quality
Violin bows are beautiful things. They are often handmade and can cost a great deal of money. For most of us though we want a bow that is good enough for our stage of playing and our instruments Inexpensive student bows can cost from around £30 - £40. A good bow will cost upwards of £200 - £300. As a rough guide, its probably worth spending up to about a quarter to a third of the cost of your violin. There is not much point in spending huge sums if the quality of violin is not great. The quality of bows can be variable. You are looking for a nice curve in the bow stick which gives it its spring. But it should be true and not warped sideways at all. The finenness of the carving - particularly around the tip - can be a good indication of quality. Also look at the quality of the frog. Some of these are a work of art in their own right. They can be intricately inlaid or quite plain. They can be silver or nickel. Violin bows are haired with horsehair usually - and this can be of different grades too. A good bow will be well balanced and comfortable to play. It will give a good tone. Remember, the bow can make as much difference to the tone as the violin itself. Its important to try a few, as different bows will suit different instruments and different players. Bows have different feels. One of my friends commented recently when borrowing a bow that it was very "girlie". Obviously if you are a big guy you might choose a different bow to the one that a small women might prefer. Its adventure to find your bow!! Joy!!! Material Violin Bows are usually wood. Traditionally pernambucco is used - a hardwood found in the forests of South America. The density of the wood is important to the eventual success of the bow and bow makers spend a lot of time tracking down good wood to make fine bows. Pernambucco is becoming increasingly rare. With the worries of deforestation, other materials are also being used. Also carbon fibre violin bows are common now. There is plenty of choice. Weight Violin bows can vary in weight quite a bit. Around 60 - 62 grams is average and most people will have a bow in this range. But they can be heavier (63 grams +) or lighter 57 grams or lighter. Some passionate folk will have several bows that might be different weights or characteristics depending what type of music they want to play. My advice is to go for one in the mid range initially. Its quite surprising what a difference a gram or two makes to the speed of the bow. it is not an exact science though and the balance of the bow is important too. Its possible to buy quite a light bow - but it may feel heavy - perhaps because it is too heavy at the tip. Maintenance of Violin Bows
From time to time it will need to be rehaired. This is a job for a professional. How often depends how much you play. The lapping may need to be replaced from time to time. Sometimes the frog my give up the ghost and need to be maintained - take it to your violin shop and have it done professionally. Playing with a violin bow You need to tighten your bow and ensure it has rosin on it. DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN!! It should be tightened to no more than a finger's width between the stick and the bow hair. Here is a video on applying rosin.
There is also a video giving an introduction to bowing (to a kid) on our
Violin playing basics page.
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