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You might be familiar with it as a concept, having seen a strange substance in violinist’s cases. But what actually is <\/em>rosin \u2013\u00a0and why do violinists need it? We’re here to answer all your questions about rosin and why it’s important for violin bows. <\/strong><\/p> Rosin is a solid form of resin \u00ad\u00ad\u2013 a sticky substance similar to sap that comes from pine trees. In order to make rosin, fresh liquid resin is heated until it solidifies. Semi-transparent and brittle, rosin varies in colour from pale yellow to black, and is used by string players to add friction to the bow hair so that it grips the strings and allows them to \u2018speak\u2019. <\/p> Find out more about the history of the violin here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p> Without rosin, there is little to no adhesion between the bow hair and the string \u2013 the bow will slide across the strings without enough friction to produce any sound <\/p> The player should ruub the rosin onto the bow hair to achieve an even coat. As you apply it, the hard rosin cake becomes a white powder which bonds to the bow hair and creates friction between the hair and the string when the instrument is played. <\/p> Players must be careful not to apply too much or too little rosin. Too much will produce clouds of rosin dust with each bow stroke, while too little won\u2019t provide the necessary adhesion to produce a clear sound.<\/p> Generally, the larger the instrument, the softer the rosin should be. The thicker strings of cellos and double basses<\/a> <\/strong>require a more pliable, sticky substance, so darker, softer rosins are used. Violinists and violists, meanwhile, tend to use a lighter, harder rosin for their instruments. However, climate also plays a part. Darker rosins do better in cool, dry climates as they are too sticky for humid environments. <\/p>What is rosin and what is it made of?<\/h2>
Why do violinists need rosin?<\/h2>
How do you apply rosin to the violin bow?<\/h2>
What\u2019s the difference between violin, viola, cello and double bass rosin?<\/h2>