putting rosin on the strings instead of bow

[Les Fret]

Maybe a stupid question.
But besides rosinening your bowhair why not put/rub some rosin on the strings? You can then even the rosin out with your bow.

I am just talking about putting a little bit of rosin on the strings not a whole lot.

Can it do any harm and will it work?

[Gord_oh]

dont know much about that but it sound like putting hair gel on your comb before combing your hair.

would it work? maybe but doubtful.
it sounds like a mess.

[JtheJazzMan]

Not a crazy idea. Ive heard it done before. I would imagine for those guys who use real heavy strings and need a lot of grip, especially on the E or a low B/C string.

[Les Fret]

Originally Posted by Gord_oh

dont know much about that but it sound like putting hair gel on your comb before combing your hair.
.

Actually it is the other way around. Putting rosin on your bow is like putting hair gel on your comb.

Putting rosin on the strings first is like putting hair gel on your head/hair and then using a comp (or bow in our case) to smooth it out.

[fstasiak]

I’ve seen it done several times. But, it you have to resort to that kind of rosining technique, maybe your real problem lays somewhere else.

[Bill Bentgen]

Play for 2 minutes. In other words, put rosin on the strings by using your bow.

[MDEbass]

Originally Posted by Bill Bentgen

Play for 2 minutes. In other words, put rosin on the strings by using your bow.

Problem solved

[JoeyNaeger]

I've done that to help break in a set of strings before, and I've heard of players doing it for one reason or another. For general use, I wouldn't recommend it though.

[Les Fret]

So far I haven't heard a good argument why not to do it

[Fletcher Lanning]

The action of putting rubbing the rosin directly on the bow hair is part of the point. All along the hair there are tiny ridges (some call them 'scales' though thats not what they really are). Rubbing the rosing on the hair helps to pull them upright and lightly cover them with the sticky coating. Putting rosin only on the strings would just require you to play for a period of time all over the bow in order to get the same effect. The strings will get some rosin from a freshly rosin'd bow.

Just put it on the bow imo.

Look at it from the other side. What are your compelling reasons to put it on the strings instead?

[Les Fret]

Good point!

The reason I asked this is that I sometimes have trouble getting a good grip on the A en E string. I feel I have to use more pressure the get a good sound on those strings. Especially in fast sixteenth passages on the low notes it sometimes is hard to get a good grip and to have the same sound on each tone.

[Fletcher Lanning]

I guess the reason to do it might be so you can get a better grip on specific strings; but it seems to me that if you put rosin on specific strings and not others it will eventually even out over the bow so you just end up with the same grip on ever string in the end.

On another note, I always feel the same way about the lower strings, but I think that is ubiquitous. Lower strings will always require more energy in order to achieve the same volume (whether pizz or arco). Maybe you should try another type of string on the lower notes that works with your play-style and your bass.

[Square Bear]

the hair grabs the string, rosin only assists. it doesn't really matter wether you put it on the strings or on the bow. either way you have to play for a few minutes to get it warmed up and working right. too much rosin on either the bow or the strings is bad news either way. les fret - those fast passages are more difficult with too much rosin too. i'm sure it's just a finesse thing that years of dilligent practice might solve.

[Les Fret]

But is getting less grip on the lower strings (especially in fast passages) 'normal'?

I don't have any problems 'grabbing' the G and D strings.
I feel I have to use too much pressure to get a good sound from the A and E string. It is not a volume thing but just less grip.

Originally Posted by Flanning

On another note, I always feel the same way about the lower strings, but I think that is ubiquitous. Lower strings will always require more energy in order to achieve the same volume (whether pizz or arco). Maybe you should try another type of string on the lower notes that works with your play-style and your bass.

What strings do you suggest for more volume on the A and E string when playing pizzicato? Now I use Spiricore weich

[LeslieD]

When I've got rosin on any one of my strings, it's not evenly distributed. It builds up along the side of the strings, leaving the top somewhat rosin-free. So why would you want to put rosin on your strings, when with most of your bowing actions you'd be "pushing it" to the side of the strings where it does nothing until you pick some of it up when you cross over again to an adjacent string?

(Of course I try to avoid over-rosining my bow so that it doesn't build up, but that's not always possible in concerts when the pieces are really long. It's MUCH easier to quickly wipe off the excess on a few strings (if I really need to) than apply more rosin!)

[johnz]

Originally Posted by Les Fret

Good point!

The reason I asked this is that I sometimes have trouble getting a good grip on the A en E string. I feel I have to use more pressure the get a good sound on those strings. Especially in fast sixteenth passages on the low notes it sometimes is hard to get a good grip and to have the same sound on each tone.

Hi Les Fret, For what it's worth, I think Flanning's comments are smack on - Flanning said "I always feel the same way about the lower strings, but I think that is ubiquitous. Lower strings will always require more energy in order to achieve the same volume").

In my opinion, each string takes a different "touch" to make it sing. My E and A strings definitely take more "arm" to get them moving. On the other hand, I have to watch it with the G string not to overpower it.

To my experience, that's just the way bass strings are. Each one if finicky in its own way

[Fletcher Lanning]

I use Weichs as well. Maybe you should try an E with a little more tension? Someone else on TBDB suggested possibly using a mittel E which could be louder. If its not a volume issue but a response time issue with the bow(as you mentioned earlier about 16th note passages) maybe one of the hybrid steel\synthetic strings like Obli's might be good for E and A (though their tone might not blend as well with the punchy Spiros).

On a side note, I hate orchestra pieces that have 16th passages on my E string.

[Hemispheres85]

There's a reason bass players for 300 years have been rosining the BOW- it works.

It sounds like the reason for not getting a good sound has to do with what YOU are doing, NOT what your equipment is doing. I would seek the advice of a professional teacher that can meet with you and help solve the problem.

It's interesting that everyone is suggesting changes in equipment before changes in technique. You can get a good sound with mediocre. But it's well known that Spirocores do not respond very well played arco. Because of the obvious fact that the lower strings are thicker, they require more pressure to vibrate.

You all are referring to "16th note passages on the lower strings". You play the bass- an instrument with a naturally slow response that requires physical effort to play. It sounds like you 'hate playing' those sort of passages because they are difficult you- and of couse it depends on the music itself; 16ths could mean in andante or in the allegro of a poorly orchestrated symphony (not always fast!).

[JtheJazzMan]

Originally Posted by Hemispheres85

But it's well known that Spirocores do not respond very well played arco.

Can we please stop repeating this misinformation?

[Hemispheres85]

Originally Posted by JtheJazzMan

Can we please stop repeating this misinformation?

How is this misinformation? If you want strings that will respond well to arco, don't buy strings made to do both- buy something that is MADE to be bowed.