5 Tips to Instantly Improve Violin Tone

5 Tips to Instantly Improve Violin Tone

Here are 5 important things to consider that can make a huge impact on your violin tone:

1. Pressure of the bow:
This certainly can affect tonal quality,  so experiment with adding slight pressure and increasing it as you draw the bow. The first finger of your bowing hand is where most of the pressure is applied. You’ll want to work with a qualified teacher on this since bowing technique is such a critical aspect of learning to play well.

2. Where on the strings the bow is applied:
You’ll find there’s a “sweet spot” where the strings are the most responsive to the drawing of the bow without any harshness in tone, and you’ll want to experiment yourself to determine where the “sweet spot” falls on your violin. Many times this might be directly between the end of the fingerboard and the bridge. If you play above the fingerboard, the violin loses presence and volume. (Even so, you might find some songs call for this mellower tone.)

3. Is the bow in a straight line above the strings?
As you draw the bow over the strings, you’ll want to focus on keeping the bow as straight as possible. Try practicing this technique by drawing the bow from the lowest part to the tip of the bow. As you draw the bow its entire length, carefully observe the angle you’re playing at, and make sure that you’re drawing a straight line across the strings. Keep the speed of the bow consistent, and be careful to allow the bow to exert its own pressure against the string with natural gravity.

4. Did you apply just the right amount of rosin?
If you have too much rosin, there will be a scratchy sound as you draw the bow. With too little, the tone will seem to disappear as you draw the bow. If you find that you’ve applied too much rosin, do not attempt to clean the hair. Cleaners and oils can ruin the capability of the hair to grab the string and create a clear pitch. It’s best to play until the rosin slowly dissipates.

5. Do you have the proper grip on your bow?
A few things to consider include: do not grip your bow too tightly, do not add unnecessary pressure to the bow, be sure to rest your little finger on the top of the bow, and keep your entire bowing arm and hand as relaxed as possible.