How tight should violin bow hairs be?

How tight should violin bow hairs be?

How tight and how loose should I make my bow hairs? The hair on the bow should be tightened when you play, and loosened when you are done and before you put the violin away. Do not over-tighten the hair. Around 1/4 of an inch distance from hair to the closest part of bow stick is perfect.

What happens if you tighten your violin bow too much?

One of the most common questions new players have about adjusting their bows is, “How tight is too tight?” There’s a tendency for new students to be a little overzealous and apply far too much tension on the bow. Remember that your violin bow is fragile. Too much tension can snap the head right off.

What is the part that tightens the bow hair called?

Violin bow frog The frog is a small piece of ebony wood that sits just between the grip and the screw. This in turn, tightens the bow hair. Often times the frog is decorated with silver, gold, ivory, pearl shell, and other materials….

Why can’t you touch the hair on a violin bow?

The reason touching the hair with your fingers is discouraged is because natural oils from your fingers or skin will transfer to the bow and cause the hairs to “slicken.” This greasiness (think of how greasy your own hair gets after not washing it for days) compromises the dry texture of the hair that grips to the …

What happens if you don’t loosen your bow?

with carbon fiber or fiberglass you are unlikely to damage the bow itself. What leaving it tight will tend to do is stretch out the hair. Loosening consistently will postpone that day, and save you SOME money. Wooden bows are much more of a problem, much more likely to lose their curve and camber.

How often should you rosin your violin bow?

Typically, students should re-apply rosin every four to six playing hours, which equals about two times per week.

What part at the end of a violin bow moves to tighten or loosen the hair?

Screw
Eyelet: A small brass piece inside the frog that allows the bow to be tightened and loosened with a turn of the screw. End Screw: A screw used to tighten or loosen the hair of the bow.

Why is my bow hair not tightening?

My bow won’t tighten enough! When the environment gets very humid, the hair on the bow will stretch. This could cause a lengthening of the bow hair which might make it difficult to tighten all the way. If this happens, DO NOT continue to tighten your bow past the resistance that your tension screw will give you!

What is the #1 thing we want to avoid when playing with your bows?

Here’s my list of 7 things they should never do with their bow.

• Never use the bow as a sword or light saber.
• Don’t tighten the bow until the stick becomes straight.
• Never put the bow on the floor.
• Don’t hold the bow too tight.
• Don’t put pressure on the bow, use your arm weight.