The Bow

The bow of the string is used to create the smooth sound from the strings on the violin. The frame of the violin is usually made from pernambuco or brazilwood. The part of the bow which touches the violin is are the horsehairs. They are stretched long in the frame to create the tension required to make a noise. So that the hairs on the violin dont wear there is a knob at the back of the bow which allows you to tighten and loosen the hairs of the bow. So that the hairs of the bow do not slip and squeek on the violin strings rosin is applied to the hairs of the bow regularly. This rosin is made up from resin which is collected from pines. This resin is then put into a cake shape to allow easy application to the bow. This rosin last for a very long time, I've been playing violin for ten years now and the only reason I have ever had to buy a new one is because I've dropped it or stood on it and it smashed, it is quite sticky so that is not good when it happens. The bow has only a few components, these include the frog, the horsehair, the stick and the head.