What Rosin Should I Use?

You want to know what is the right type of rosin for you? Make the experiment yourself and try different ones until you find the one that best suits your instrument and playing needs. Of course, there are several factors to consider when choosing the right type of rosin. For example, the WEATHER, the PIECE, and SOUND you want. I think you will find that it is helpful to have more than one type of rosin, because change is necessary and fun.

Now let’s talk about these factors separately.

The type of weather you live in plays an huge role in the type of rosin you should use.

COLD WEATHER: Cold, dry weather makes the wood contract. Think of contraction as when you are cold and shrink up in your bed, not wanting to do anything. Similarly, it is harder to produce a good sound on the violin when it is cold. Therefore, using a darker, stickier type of rosin will help you solve this problem.

HOT WEATHER: Hot, humid weather makes the wood of the violin expand and increases the friction (rubbing) of the bow with the string. Using a LIGHT ROSIN, which is less sticky, will produce a smoother sound on the instrument.

TYPE OF PIECE: The musical genre you are performing will also determine the type of rosin. Classical, legato songs usually call for a LIGHT ROSIN, in the case of the violin of course. Songs that use off the string strokes call for a DARKER ROSIN because it makes it easier to play by creating more friction between the bow and the string.

SOUND: There so many types of rosin out there, and they can all help you produce a variety of sounds. Think of the sound you want for a specific song, and experiment with different rosin to find the one that will help you achieve it.

In the end, finding the BEST rosin for you is a process that might never end. And isn’t that the best part? There will always be new options to test and new ideas that will change your mind. To me, that is the beauty of being human, we can make new choices every day.