Bow (music)
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In music, a bow is a tensioned stick which has hair coated in rosin affixed to it. It is moved across some part of a musical instrument to cause vibration, which the instrument emits as sound. The vast majority of bows are used with string instruments, such as the violin, viola, cello, and bass, although some bows are used with musical saws and other bowed idiophones.
Frog of a modern violin bow (K. Gerhard Penzel)
Tip of a modern violin bow (K. Gerhard Penzel)
Turning the screw on a modern violin bow causes the frog (heel) to move, which adjusts the tension on the hair.
Violin family
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The violin family of musical instruments was developed in Italy in the 16th century. At the time the name of this family of instruments was viole da braccio which was used to distinguish them from the viol family. The standard modern violin family consists of the violin, viola, cello, and (possibly) double bass.
Violin, viola, and cello bow frogs (top to bottom)
An octobass
Image: Cello front side
Image: AGK bass 1 full