There are many materials use to make the bow of a violin. In the past, it was made from of Pernambuco wood from Brazil but since the Pernambuco wood is now endangered species, it is not commonly used in making bow for the violin. The Tabebuia wood and carbon fibre are now commonly used to make a bow.
Horse hairs from the tail of a hair is used for a violin bow, a bow maker uses about 150 to 200 hairs closely strung together on the bow. The white hair from a white horse is mostly preferred to the black hair on the black horse. This is because it is believed that the white hair moves smoothly on the string to create a smooth sound.
Violin bows are made by stringing 150 – 200 pieces of hair from a horse’s tail. They are strung very close together, forming a ribbon and then coated with rosin, which is a wax. They use white hair from the tails of white horses, who live in cold climates like Canada, Mongolia, and Siberia. White hair is very fine as opposed to dark hair, which is coarse and thick.
The white hair helps the bow travel over the delicate strings of the violin to create a smooth sound. When you purchase your bow, count on having to have it restrung on a regular basis. The variables in need for restringing include, weather, is it dry where you live or humid. A bow is a very personal thing so choose wisely. It must have the right feel and balance for the person who uses it.
Answer Anonymously
Copy Link
