Which Rosin Should I Use?

With so many different varieties out there, it can be tricky to pick just one! In our experience, picking a rosin is a bit like choosing strings, you don’t really know how you’re going to like it until you’re using on your instrument. Because of this, you may end up trying a few before you find one that you really like.

Luckily, you can still make an informed purchasing decision by understanding the physical qualities of rosin and how these affect the sound and playability of your instrument and bow. When describing the way a rosin performs, we usually look at grip, volume, texture, and tone colour. 

Rosin isn’t something that is going to drastically change the sound of your instrument; but rather a tool you can use to refine your sound and playing style as an intermediate, advanced, or professional player. If you are a beginner, you don’t need anything fancy. An inexpensive, good quality student rosin will be perfectly fine. We recommend Paganini or Kunstlerlob for violin and viola, Esperanto for cello and Petz III for double bass.

Rosin can be classed into three different shades: light, dark and amber. 

Darker rosins are generally softer and stickier than lighter rosins which means they have more grip and produce a grittier, thicker tone. They are usually favoured by cellists and double bassists and anyone using synthetic core strings, gut strings or gut-wound strings. Soft rosin works better in colder climates, so it is quite popular in Europe, Melbourne, and Tasmania.

Lighter rosins are generally harder and more brittle than darker rosins which means they have less grip and produce a smoother, clearer tone. They are generally favoured by violinists and violist and anyone using steel core strings. Harder rosins work best in tropical climates such as Singapore, Queensland, or the Northern Territory. 

Amber rosins offer balance of both dark and light rosins, however every rosin, light or dark has its differences depending on the tree it comes from and the other ingredients the manufacturer has added.

Sometimes professional players will have two bows with two different rosins that they use for different occasions. They may prefer a softer rosin when playing in an orchestral setting or studio and a harder rosin when playing in a concert hall.

Another factor to consider when purchasing rosin is additives such as precious metals.

It is not uncommon to see gold, silver, and copper added to rosin recipes. These materials can create better grip between the bow and the strings and influence tone colour. 

Pirastro Goldflex, Larica and Golden basics are all examples of rosin where gold flakes have been added as an additive to create more grip between the bow and the strings. The gold additive creates a warm, yet clear tone which is quite a desirable, and the extra grip can give you more control over your dynamic range (eg going from PP to FF). Having metal additives does make the rosin more abrasive however, which means that your bow hair and strings may not last quite as long.

Rosin with silver additives tend to create a brighter tone (good for violin or viola), whilst rosin with copper additives create a warmer, silkier tone (good for beginners). It can be quite tricky to get the right balance with rosin – choosing a tree, the cooking process, and the additives, so you can see why many rosin makers keep their recipes close to their chest. 

Larica Gold 1 has five different metal additive – Gold, Silver, Meteor Iron, Zinc and Pyrite, and you can only imagine how long it took to find the perfect balance between all those! Larica rosin is based off the infamous Liebenzeller rosin recipe which was developed in the workshop of Viennese violin maker Dr. Thomastik as early as 1922. Larica rosin offers excellent grip, volume, warmth, and doesn’t compromise on tone colour which is why it is highly favoured by professional players.

Some string brands have brought out their own rosins, designed to match the technical requirements of their strings.

Larsen and Pirastro are two prime examples, and this can make the choice very easy for players using their strings. If you’re using Larsen or Pirastro strings, and buying rosin for the first time, matching their rosin to your strings is a great place to start. 

If you’re looking for a brand that is going to give you the ultimate customisation then you can’t go past Leatherwood. In their range you can decide on how much crispness or suppleness you want as a percentage of the mixture. Their 100% supple recipe is smooth and warm, whilst the 100% crisp it exactly that, crisp! With lots of ‘bite’ (grip) and volume. You can see that by mixing these two together in different ratios, most players can find a balance that they like. I.e 75% crisp 25% supple will give you power and grip that soloist love, with some warmth and texture. We love how Leatherwood explore the spectrum of rosin and that they are Australian made!

Generally, as the price of the rosin goes up, so does the level of refinement, which in our experience means that you don’t need to apply much to your bow to get the best result. Given this, it’s important to keep in mind that the size of the cake doesn’t necessarily mean that you are getting more value. We also find that better quality rosins are usually less powdery and scratchy, especially when applied in the right amount.

If your eyes, skin, or nose are getting irritated while playing, then you might have an allergy to rosin.

There are a few hypoallergenic rosin out there, however Geipel is our favourite. Some players decide to use this rosin even if they don’t have an allergy, because they like how it performs.

Now that you have a better insight into the physical qualities of rosin and how it can be designed and altered to suit different instruments, playing styles, and playing standards, this brings us back to the question – which rosin should I use? Well, as you can see, it really depends on 1) What level you are playing at, 2) What your budget is, and 3) What kind of sound and playability you want to achieve. Luckily, we are here to save you some time and have added in our favourites below. 

Beginners 

Violin/Viola – Paganini Cloth or Paganini Cork violin rosin. The cork is smaller and more suitable for 6 year old’s and younger.
Cello – Esperanto cello rosin
Double Bass – Petz III double bass rosin

Intermediate - Advanced Violin/Viola

Light - Bernardel or Viennas Best
Amber - Larsen or Pirastro Goldflex
Dark - Pirastro Oliv or Millant Deroux

Intermediate - Advanced Cello

Light - Bernardel
Amber - Larsen
Dark - Melos Dark

Intermediate - Advanced Double Bass

Dark - Nyman

Advanced - Professional Violin/Viola/Cello

Cecilia Rosin - Cecilia have 4 different recipes with varying playing characteristics. We recommend checking out their Youtube Channel for an introduction to the brand and detailed look into each recipe. 

Buy online: Cecilia Violin  |  Cecilia Viola  |  Cecilia Cello

Larica Rosin - Larica rosin is based off the infamous Liebenzeller rosin recipe and offers excellent grip, volume, warmth, and doesn’t compromise on tone colour. Below is a list of the metal additives that give each Larica rosin their different playing characteristics. 

The rosins are divided as numbers I, II, III and IV, depending on what instrument you play and the level of grip you desire. 

Buy online: Larica I  |  Larica II  |  Larica III  |  Larica IV

Leatherwood - The Leatherwood range offers varying degrees of smoothness/warmth (suppleness) and grip/volume (crispness). They don't use any additives, but instead rely on blending the resin from Queensland pine tress with resin from different species found all over the world, to create the desired playing characteristics. Proudly Australian made in Orange. For more information on Leatherwood we highly recommend checking out their Youtube Channel.

Buy online: 100% Supple  |  100% Crisp  |  Bespoke Blends

Intermediate - Advanced Double Bass

Nyman - Pops and Nyman rosin are seen by many players as the two most commonly used double bass rosins, however where Nyman rosin excels is its ability to go the distance without having to re-apply so regularly as the Pops.

Next: How do I rosin a bow?

Other articles that may also interest you:

What is rosin and how is it made?
How often should I rosin my bow?
Does rosin expire?
Can rosin damage my instrument or bow?
Can I use violin rosin on a cello or double bass bow?
What will happen if I mix two rosins together?

Watch our video on Rosin: