Violin Bow Types

As promised I'll be going over the different violin bows I've come across. You might not realize or even think about it but there are 2 different types of bow sticks and 2 different types of hair used for the bows.

If you buy a brand new violin you'll have a bow that comes with it. But it might not make a good sound on the strings. That's because the bow that comes supplied with the violin is often cheaply made or even warped. Of course all bows have a bend that goes tip to screw but it should only bend down. What I mean when I say warped is that the stick bends to the side. I've had 2 bows that were like that and when used it made awful sounds because the hair wasn't moving straight down the strings. With that you'll need to buy a new one from a music store. So here's the different types.

Stick Types:

1. Wood: This is the most common stick type for all bows. This is the one you'll have come with your violin and it's the one you'll need to inspect to make sure it's not warped. Just hold it at a down angle and look along the top of the bow. You'll see if it's bending left or right. If it does, pass on that one and go to the next bow. Wooden bows are the favorite of my violin teacher because they are heavier and easier to control. This is especially helpful for new players.
2. Carbon Fiber: Carbon fiber bows are expensive but there's no risk of getting one that is warped. They are also lighter than the wooden bows and, although harder to learn to control, they do make it easier to play for a longer time (in my personal opinion). They also come in a number of colors: I've seen standard black, painted to look like wood, blue, and green. I personally have a black carbon fiber bow. It looks more elegant to me.

If you go into a music store they could have all the violin bows just lumped together and no readable label so if you're looking for a particular stick type there's 2 tricks to tell the difference so you won't get a wood painted carbon fiber bow if you wanted a wooden bow. First, look at the price. If the price is substantially higher you likely have a carbon fiber bow in your hand. Second: look at the width of the bow near the bowgrip. If the bow is thick you have a wooden one. If it's thinner then you are looking at the carbon fiber.

Hair Types:

1. Horse Hair: This is the traditional material used for the bow hair. Horse hair, like all hair, is never perfectly smooth. Although it will feel smooth and slick no real hair ever is. It's this roughness that allows the hair to hold the rosin and grip the strings well. Horse hair bows are best for gripping the strings and making a nice sound. 
2. Synthetic Hair: These bow hairs can be made from various materials. Most of these bows seem to be made from fiberglass. They can hold the rosin but not as well as true horse hair bows can. This makes the sound they produce of lesser quality and also means they need to be rosined more often. 

There are a number of methods to telling if a bow's hair is synthetic or horse hair. Honestly I'd prefer to rely on the label, help from a store clerk, or from the product description on the website. I saw someone tested if there bow was horse hair or synthetic by using a lighter... but I'd prefer not to risk ruining the bow I'm using just to see. I'd rather just ask.

Ok, that's it for this week. Next time I talk about the violin I'll go into the strings. You can't make music if you don't have the strings, right? 😝