4 Details to Consider When Choosing a Violin Bow

If you have recently learned how to read violin sheet music as part of your music lessons, you may be tempted to upgrade your instrument. A lot of beginners choose to rent their instrument at first. But when it is time to purchase a violin of their own, there are many questions that need to be addressed. While choosing the right instrument for your skills and needs is important, you also want to consider the choice of your violin bow.

For beginners, it's hard to choose which violin bow to use. You might get easily satisfied with the first one you get as you will not easily identify the differences of violin bows. As you get familiarized with playing the violin, you will eventually know that the right bow will help you improve your overall performance and playing experience especially if you are aiming to play in an orchestra. So, how do you know if you're choosing the best bow for your violin?

Upgrading to Better Quality Bow

From beginner bow, upgrading to a higher quality bow is required to advance your skills. However, choosing won't be easy as there are different types of violin bows available out there. You need to know what you exactly need so that you can get the best options on the market.

The type of bow you will be choosing actually depends on your personal preferences. Below are some important details you need to consider when investing in the right bow:

Material. Bows are typically made of brazilwood, pernambuco wood, and fiberglass. These materials have their own unique features which make them good options for a particular use. Brazilwood is for beginners and intermediate players, pernambuco is for professional violinists, and the fiberglass is for students advancing to next-level bow. Pernambuco is more dense compared to the Brazilwood, while the fiberglass is known for its durability and is more affordable compared to other type of materials.

Shape. When looking for a bow, you will notice that it's either octagonal or round. Though there are other shapes such as half-round and a bit triangular, the most commonly used are the octagonal or round bow. The octagonal bow is relatively stiffer than the round counterparts. You should try both types in order to find the perfect violin bow you need in improving your performance and tuning

Sound quality. With different materials and shapes, each bow produces a slightly different sound from the others. So when buying a new bow, you must try them out so that you will know which one suits you best. If you opt for a softer violin bow, you will get much smoother sound but lacking in clarity. Avoid materials that create a scratchy sound.

Overall feel. Before you buy a violin bow, make sure to have a firsthand experience playing it with your instrument. Bring your violin so you can try different bows from local music shops and compare the sounds and tunes produced by each brand.

Consider various materials, designs, ability levels, and features when choosing a bow so that you can optimize your musical skills. Also, you need to play a few passages to know how each bow feels when using them. That way, you can figure out the right bow for the specific genres of music you usually play. Choose something that is lightweight, comfortable, and well-fitted in your unique needs.

Aside from looking out for the best violin bow, you must also practice your bowing techniques. It is also important to get your violin bow rehaired depending on how often you use it. This is a must for you to get the right tension you want while playing the instrument.