How much does one need to know about violin rosin? A good luthier could just hand it to you. But what if you had to decide?

Rosin is made from pine tree sap. One hundred types of sap qualifies. Pine trees are tapped just like maple trees are for syrup. Dark rosin is harvested primarily in the summer and is softer than light rosin which is drawn in the winter and spring.

Rosin is heated and purified by all manufacturers in the same way. Each company adds its their own recipe to the pine tree sap, hence their secrets for each brand.

Light rosin is best in the summer as it is hard and becomes less sticky. It also provides the clearest sound, but less projection. Dark rosin is sticky in the summer months and best used in the winter. It also provides a greater amplitude when playing.

The darker the rosin, the softer it is. It will provide a harsher and stronger sound than light rosin. Dark rosin also throws off more powder, creating cleaning issues.