When playing the fiddle, what does it mean to "rosin up your bow"?

Question

You know in the Alabama song "If You're Gonna Play in Texas (You've Gotta have a Fiddle in the Band)" It mentions "rosining up a bow". What does that mean?

Answer 1

Rosin is a hard tree sap that is rubbed onto the hairs of the bow (the part of the bow that rubs on the strings is made from a horse's tail - these hairs are very coarse and slightly rough.) This allows the hairs to slide smoothly while still gripping the string enough to make it vibrate. Too rough, and the bow will grab too hard - pulling hairs out of the bow and giving a very harsh sound. Too smooth, and there will be almost no sound at all.

PS: Don't forget when Charlie Daniel's said, "Johnny, rosin up your bow, and play your fiddle hard", from "Devil Went Down to Georgia."

Answer 2

I played the violin as a child - and to keep the hair on the bow in good condition you rub a bar of rosin on it before you play. It is about the size of a very small bar of soap, and is an amber color.

Answer 3

There is a product called "rosin" and it is used to put on the bow of a fiddle to make it smoother, like a wax.

Answer 4

Rosin is a substance that you slide along the bow so it is smoother and so it doesn't break as easily when playing songs

Answer 5

a block of rosin or resin is hard tree sap that you rub on the bow hairs to prevent them from slipping on the strings. Had kids in violin lessons

Answer 6

First of all, Haven't you heard of Charile Daniels. Rosing up your bow means exatly that. Rosen is Rosen . You put it on your bow when you want to play????? Makes no sense to me. I guess everone should go out with a musician. Look at all the stuff you can learn!!!

Answer 7

Means to wax your bow.