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Sometimes, when doing an upstroke on the E string (doesn’t seem to happen on down stroke) there is no sound. For a second there is silence. I haven’t been able to pinpoint if it’s a certain section of the bow when this happens. Nor whether it’s a bow problem or a string problem. Any suggestions what might be causing this or how to zero in on the issue?
Thanks!
John
Well, Adding a touch of downward pressure with the index finger will help in solving this issue. Keep in mind how much pressure you are using in your down bow stroke and try to equal that with the up stroke. Also make sure the bow hair is engaging the string with the proper amount of hair and at a good angle. Otherwise it just takes time and practice. Enjoy the process.
quote:
Originally posted by capefiddleSometimes, when doing an upstroke on the E string (doesn’t seem to happen on down stroke) there is no sound. For a second there is silence. I haven’t been able to pinpoint if it’s a certain section of the bow when this happens. Nor whether it’s a bow problem or a string problem. Any suggestions what might be causing this or how to zero in on the issue?
Thanks!
John
It's a fairly common issue. There are several possible causes:
1) Not enough rosin on the bow. This is less likely if the bow engages well elsewhere
2) Too much rosin buildup on the bow or strings. When there's too much rosin, it actually makes it harder to play. Make sure the string is clean by using a dry cloth to wipe off rosin.
3) Bridge curve. If the curve of the bridge isn't right, it will make string crossings more difficult and will lead to the bow skating on a string more often. A good bridge has a proper curve that corresponds with a properly shaped fingerboard so that the strings are optionally positioned for the bow as it crosses from one to another or in chords.
4) Imprecise bow attack. The e string doesn't always respond well to the same attack you use for the G. It's often necessary to be mindful of the bow speed and weight when crossing strings. If you come across a passage where the e is cutting out, try repeating it with different bow speeds and pressures until you can make it speak.
5) Bad soundpost position. If the post is not in a good spot, the response of the violin won't be adequate for your articulation.
6) Afterlength out of phase. If the afterlength isn't tuned, you might have a frequency that's out of phase with the fundamental that's canceling the sound. It may help to correct this if it's off. It doesn't hurt to check neck length, stop length, and vibrating string length, either.
Edited by - The Violin Beautiful on 05/13/2026 07:53:32
Thanks for the responses. I think the bow had too much rosin. When I kind of flicked the bow hair large clouds of rosin came off. I then gingerly wiped the bow hair with an alcohol wipe. Made a big difference on the sound. Back to sounding clear toned. Time will tell if that also solves the E string issue.
I had a very similar situation to yours — sometimes the sound on the up-bow on the E-string would also “disappear”. In my case, it turned out to be a mixture of excess rosin and slightly uneven bow contact, especially with light pressure. After cleaning the hair and more careful control of the bow weight up, the problem almost completely disappeared.
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