Instrument Care...
 Bow
Do's and Don'ts
Caring for your bow is just as important as caring for your
instrument:
-
 Always hold your bow by the frog (as shown), not by the tip or by the hair, and carry it with
the tip raised; if the bow is accidentally dropped, it's
better that it falls on the frog than on the delicate head.
-
Tighten the bow every time you are going to use it, then
loosen it again when you are finished playing.
-- To tighten the bow hair, turn the screw
clockwise several full turns (exact number depends on the
bow) until you can fit the tip of
your pinky finger between the hair and the bow stick.
-- After use, turn the screw counter-clockwise,
until you can see that the hair has been loosened. If left at
tension, the bow stick will warp, the hair will stretch out, and
on bows that have plastic frogs, the frog itself can break.
-
Don't touch the bow hair with your fingers. Oils from
your skin will be absorbed by the hair and it will no longer
hold rosin.
-
Never tap the head of your bow against the music stand,
or swish the bow through the air to remove excess rosin.
-
Keep your bow clean by wiping it carefully with a soft,
dry cloth after playing.
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When should I get my bow re-haired?
It is probably time
to have your bow re-haired if:
-
it takes noticeably more rosin to get a
sufficient "grab"
-
the hair at the frog of the bow is black and
dirty, or oily
-
the hair has turned yellow and brittle
-
bow hairs break more often
-
you have broken enough hairs that the hair
looks thinned out
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