1/30/23 A Cheeseburger You Can Eat with a Violin Bow

A lot of string players have more than one bow. And usually one is their good bow and one is an old “junker”. 

Have any of you string players out there ever noticed that you play differently with your good bow? 

But not necessarily better?

Naturally I treat my good bow with more care than the junker. I don’t put my good bow down just anywhere—I make sure it’s in a safe place.

I make sure it stays clean and intact--I don’t want any oil or grease to get on the hair or on the grip. So sometimes I have to go to the trouble of washing my hands first.

I use my good bow for performing, so I try to "save" it. I try not to play too aggressively with it at home so I don't break a lot of hair or possibly damage it.

But with my junker, if inspiration strikes I can pick it up in the middle of eating lunch. 

I can leave it right next to my laptop, where I can just grab it if I need it.

And I can play it as hard as I please—chop my heart out or strum a percussive groove.

And I’ll be darned if I don’t generally make my best music with that old junker.

Because your best music and creativity happens when you are most at ease.

Yeah, the good one still sounds better and handles much better, but it’s like a fancy car that I don’t want to get dirty. In my old junker, I can eat a sloppy cheeseburger anytime I want.

In some ways, that cheap fiberglass stick is more valuable to me than a priceless bow.

Stay creative and groove on!

--Tracy