Violin & Bow Care – The Essential Checklist Every Musician Should Know

To get you started, here’s a short video packed with quick tips to keep your instrument performing beautifully.

Below, you’ll also find the full Violin & Bow Care Checklist, with all the essential advice to help your violin and bow stay in top condition.

Violin Care Tips

1. Wipe off rosin dust and finger grease daily - Use a soft, clean cloth to gently clean your violin and bow. It keeps the finish healthy and prevents buildup.
2. Check your bridge angle - The bridge should stand straight. A leaning or warped bridge can eventually collapse. Adjust gently with both thumbs and forefingers or have your luthier do it.
3. Replace all four strings together - Changing all strings at once ensures better tone balance across strings and keeps tension even.
   1. Synthetic strings: change every 6 months.
   2. Gut strings: every couple of months.
4. Watch the humidity - Stringed instruments and bow hair are highly sensitive to moisture.
   1. Too dry: Varnish can melt and cracks may form.
   2. Too humid: The soundpost may swell, tightening or loosening unexpectedly.
5. Never leave your instrument in a hot car - It’s one of the quickest ways to damage varnish and warp the wood.

Bow Care Tips

1. Loosen your bow hair when not in use - Leaving it tight can pull the stick straight over time and ruin the bow’s natural curve (camber).
2. Avoid storing your bow in a closed case for too long - Unopened cases attract carpet beetles that chew bow hair, and even tortoiseshell or whalebone if your bow uses it. Add a mothball if storing long-term.
3. Reverse your bow in its case occasionally - Some cases apply pressure unevenly, which can cause the bow to warp sideways.
4. Rehair regularly - Missing too many hairs can pull the bow out of alignment. Regular rehairing keeps tension balanced and performance consistent.
5. Humidity affects bow hair length - Hair stretches in damp weather and tightens in dry. Don’t blame the rehair job if it feels too loose or too tight, blame the weather.
6. Use a qualified professional for repairs - Bow restoration is delicate. Improper work can ruin the feel and sound of the bow.
7. Don’t play with a bald bow - If the hair is worn out, rosin won’t grip properly. The bow will puff out dust but produce no sound.
8. Check the tip - Cracks or missing ivory on the bow tip can lead to serious damage if not fixed quickly.
9. Don’t applaud with your bow - Tapping it against a music stand might seem harmless, but it can cause dents, cracks or misalignment.
10. Never drop your bow - Even a small drop can cause warping, cracking or a weakened structure.

Want to Learn Violin & Bow Care in Person?

I offer a short, friendly show-and-tell in person session where we walk through the Violin & Bow Care Checklist together, perfect for:

1. Schools & string programs.
2. Music teachers & their students.
3. Orchestras & ensembles.

Also, from time to time, I run special sessions at the workshop designed for musicians and parents who want to better understand how to care for their instrument and bow with confidence.

These are engaging hands-on show-and-tell sessions, packed with real examples, practical tips along with easy-to-understand takeaways, and best of all, their completely free of charge.

If you’d like to arrange a session contact us.