If you want to become a musician, you have to pay attention to the most important part of creating music – your instrument. If you want to become a violinist, it is important for you to take good care of your violin. Just like your pet, child, and everyone else in your family that you take care of, you have to make sure that you maintain your instrument similarly. It requires the same amount of care and attention, just like any other member.

If you want your violin to seamlessly produce great quality sound, you need to love, respect, and protect the instrument. As violin strings are prone to get damaged easily, if you do not take good care, it might result in not being able to produce sound. However, if this is the first time you have started taking violin lessons, you need to understand the care tips for the instrument. It is imperative that you might not be aware of the important caring tips, so the following are some of the most common ways to take good care and maintain the instrument.

Make sure to check out these seven things to understand the steps you need to maintain the quality of your instrument.

1. Properly clean your violin –

It is important for you to clean the instrument on a regular basis after practicing by using a microfiber cloth or simply a duster. However, whether you are using a duster or a microfibre cloth for cleaning, you have to make sure that it is clean. If you don’t change the cloth on a regular basis, it will result in rubbing the old rosin and dirt on the body of the instrument. Rather than cleaning it, it will deposit more dirt on its body. If you want to maintain the shine on the instrument, you need to make sure that you use policies and cleaners that are specially created for violin. The same goes for violin strings.

2. Choose a proper violin case-

It is also important to choose a protective violin case. If you have to regularly go to practice instruments, you have to carry the instrument. Therefore, you must pay attention to buying a great quality violin case that is made with carbon fiber. It provides excellent protection while being lightweight. Do not forget to check the latches present on the case, as it ensures the locking system and reliability of your instrument. As you will be carrying the case on your back, you might not be able to keep an eye on the instrument. So making sure of sturdy latches that keep the instrument locked inside makes sure to seamlessly carry the instrument without damage.

3. Properly place the instrument inside the violin case-

Now that you have bought a violin case, it does not mean that you will just keep it inside anyway. You also have to be very mindful while placing the instrument inside. If you want to ensure the longevity of your instrument, make sure to wrap it with a silk handkerchief. As violin strings are susceptible to reacting with humidity and temperature changes, they can reduce longevity. So it is crucial to make sure that you appropriately wrap the violin inside the case and protect it thoroughly. There are many players who use spinach, leaves, or lettuce for a dry environment.

4. Make sure to slack gently in the bow hair-

As the violin bow plays an important role in playing the instrument, you also have to make sure that you place it properly. If the screws present on the bow are not tightened properly, it is suggested not to force it. There are chances that the thread might have been stripped, which needs to be taken care of by a luthier. You have to make sure that you keep the bow in its proper shape. Just the way you maintain every other part of the instrument.

5. Don’t give any kind of force on the pegs-

It is important to understand in detail to take care of the instrument thoroughly. There are different components present in a violin that requires similar attention and maintenance. When it comes to pegs, it requires you to invest in a digital chromatic tuner. This can become helpful for users to seamlessly tune the instrument and match your tuning requirement to fulfill their music needs. Always keep in mind that you should not force the pegs while tuning.

6. Be completely careful while changing the strings-

When you start putting new strings or are not able to produce the music, it is time to change the stream. However, don’t rush and change one string at a time. If you change all the violin strings at the same time, it can result in moving its bridge and changing the overall placement of the sound post. This will again require you to visit the violin shop and get it done by an expert.

violin strings

7. Use lighter rosin-

Making use of light-quality rosins is strongly recommended as they are denser and harder, which is why it becomes a great choice for violins. Make sure to give the right stroke to get the quality finish you desire. However, always keep in mind not to touch the horse hair as your skin oil can damage it.

When should you visit a violin shop?

When you take good care of your violin and maintain all of the steps mentioned above, you can stay assured that your instrument will be of the right quality. However, regular checkup from the luthier is vital to ensure its quality. Especially, when it comes to changing violin strings, choosing expert services is preferable. They make sure to apply quality compounds that can maintain the health and quality of your instrument over time. However, for any other kinds of repairs and distortion work, it is inevitable to visit the violin shop.