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Strings or rosin???

Discussion in 'Bows and Rosin [DB]' started by Sdtrf, Apr 17, 2012.

  1. Apr 17, 2012 #1
    Sdtrf

    Sdtrf

    Apr 17, 2012
    Hi I'm Makayla Im kinda new to bass I started playing in my schools orchestra this past september and I am now the third best bass player out of seven.
    I just got a lightly used bass with a brand new bow. I use pops and Sherman's rosin. Starting the other day I notice that when I played some of the notes (usually the higher ones ex. G string) it was scratching a little bit or just like super high. Not normal even if I was playing sharp or it was out of tune. Just to make sure it wasnt b/c I didn't have enough rosin I put more w/ no difference. Does anyone know if it's the strings or the rosin? Or maybe how I'm cleaning the strings? I wasn't sure if the strings would rust or get ruined by water so I just wipe them down w/ a dry rag/paper towel. Please help!
     
  2. Apr 17, 2012 #2
    Matt Ides

    Matt Ides

    May 12, 2004
    Minneapolis, MN
    Here are my thoughts:

    1. Does this happen still if somebody else play's your bass?
    2. Too much rosin
    3. Not enough rosin so too much bow pressure
    4. As you move up the finger board with your left hand your right bow hand needs to move closer to the bridge as well. It is a bit difficult to explain but your bow hand should move in conjunction with your left.

    Hope this helps.
     
  3. Apr 18, 2012 #3
    Sdtrf

    Sdtrf

    Apr 17, 2012
    Thank you for the reply Matt! I will try this later. Thanks again:) and I don't know if it happens when someone else plays my bass no one else has played it yet, I just got it last Thursday b/c I switched from a half to a 3/4.
     
  4. Apr 19, 2012 #4
    Sdtrf

    Sdtrf

    Apr 17, 2012
    I tried that last night and I don't think I had enough rosin and I also cleaned the strings is it ok to use a wet paper towel b/c that's what I did. Thanks Matt!
     
  5. Apr 19, 2012 #5
    MostlyBass

    MostlyBass

    Mar 3, 2002
    Oak Park, IL
    It's probably the Sherman rosin - their formula is too similar to violin rosin. Just use the Pops.

    And, take a toothbrush and 'brush' the bow hair to clean out the old rosin from the hair. Just use Pops and I bet in a few days you will notice a difference.
     
  6. Apr 19, 2012 #6
    Matt Ides

    Matt Ides

    May 12, 2004
    Minneapolis, MN
    I just use a dry towel to wipe the strings off when I am done. When I see a lot of rosin build up on the string I use an alcohol swab to clean the string (every few months).

    I would discuss with your teacher the finer points of bow hair tightness and how much rosin. It changes from player to player and you need to find out what works best for you.
     
  7. Apr 19, 2012 #7
    Sdtrf

    Sdtrf

    Apr 17, 2012
    Thanks for all the tips guys!! And I have started just using pops I never really liked shermans but I had to use it for a couple days when my pops rosin fell out of my pocket at festival at school. No one ever found it (festival was held at our school so some other bass player probably Picked it up thinking it was theirs) so I had to buy more:)