Can a violin bow be used on a cello?

The short answer is no, even for a particularly heavy violin bow. The strings on a cello are significantly thicker than what you will find on a violin, so they will need more pressure to vibrate and produce a tone. The violin bow is just too nimble for that and might even get damaged if a sufficiently eager player tries to force it to work.

Can you wash a violin bow?

All the solid parts of a violin bow can be cleaned using a whip soaked in a light solvent, such as denatured alcohol. If in a tight spot, you can use water provided you wipe it dry afterward. More corrosive materials should not be used. The hair is cleaned by gently rubbing across its length with a toothbrush dipped in denatured alcohol. (Note that it should be loosened from the stick beforehand.)

Who invented the violin bow?

While string instruments trace back to ancient Egypt, the first bows were most likely used by the Indo-Iranian civilizations of the Middle East during the 7th century. The technical improvements that brought the modern bow into existence are the work of French bow maker Francois Tourte and this only dates to the beginning of the 18th-19th century. His bows had the same parts and were balanced in the same way as what we have today.

What are violin bow strings made of?

Violin bow strings are most commonly made from the tail hair of horses that live in very cold climates, such as Mongolia, Siberia or Canada. This is because horses who grow in these regions tend to develop more ample tails with thicker strands. Between 150-200 of these are used by a bow maker and because the violin is a high pitched instrument, their color will be light.

What size violin bow do I need?

A size that will correspond to that of your violin, which should, in turn, correspond to the size of your arms. This is generally expressed in fractions, as parts of 4. A full violin will measure around 23” (4/4) in length and will require a 29.5” (4/4) bow. This is recommended for a person older than 11, with an arm length of at least 23”.

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