How long have you been playing? There is quite a learning curve for the rest of your fiddling career, and it starts steep. Learning the bow is hard. Sometimes the problem is mechanical, like your choice of rosin. Myself, turns out I'm not a heavy user of rosin. That's just me, neither right nor wrong. I suggest that you start budgeting for a better bow. In the meantime, it's time spent woodshedding and not liking a lot of the sound you make. I know I didn't like the majority of the sounds my fiddle made for a couple of years. The good news is that you're learning to listen critically.

Rosin is cheap, and experimentation is fun. If you happen to drop the rosin cake and break it, just use one of the chunks. If you're a bit manic, experiment with an emery board and roughen the rosin a bit. Also try varying the tension on the bow. Never crazy tight, but try varying the tension a half twist at a time and see what happens. Of course, do your best to try and keep your fingers from touching the bow hair as it'll just get the hair dirty. On the other hand, it can be said that dirty bow hair at the frog is a sign that you're playing a lot.

Mostly, though, just play the instrument. Drive the people around you nuts. In time it'll all become natural, and you'll be playing with abandon.

It might also have to do with your bowing technique. A slight bit of pressure at the beginning of a note starts it out crisply.

Hmm…
Can not see what you are doing, but are you drawing the bow straight ( keeping bow moving mostly in the middle between the bridge and fingerboard)? If your bow is not moving mostly straight, could be an issue with the guiding motion of your arm ( bow is actually slipping sideways a bit at bow changes?)

Or Are you perhaps lightening your hold a lot during the bow changes? What happens if you just let bow “lay” on strings ( using no pressure from your hand/arm) and draw it back and forth? If that gets rid of the “slip” sound, then maybe you are slightly “picking up” the bow or lightening your hold a lot when you change bows…

Observation and practice should take care of it ! :-)

You mentioned reducing speed before changing bow. Yes, as well as reducing pressure. Both, in a microsecond. And flexible, almost tensionless fingers. That is what to concentrate on--do it slowly, and then at tempo the "noise" will go away. Overemphasize martele'.

Also, I'm curious--a member for 13 years and just now having to address this common bow fault?

I became a member 13 years ago with the intention to start playing then. Started playing banjo instead. I found my current violin and bow at a lady’s junk store who got it at an estate sale in 1989. So, I’ve had the violin for 23 years. I’d say it’s about time…..

33 years. Math is fuzzy this early in the morning!

Don't do it, bowing is a bad habit to break....especially when you get good at it.....but if you insist ... one thing that will help is listening to a lot of fiddling in the genre that you enjoy... your bowing will be part of your subconscious as you figure out how and why to make better tones...

Play Happy

Swing

I notice slipping when my strings get caked with rosin. Have you tried wiping them down where the bow meets string?

I agree with Swing/David...listen to what you wanna sound like...think about it a lot and then just play, try to play it that way and let it come naturally. Give it time. I mean, some folks are comfortable with micromanaging, etc., but if it wears you out to think about all that (like it does me...lol), then just listen and think and it'll eventually come out like you want. Or if you do get into the micro-managing and ergonomics and all that...go fer it. I just wanted to agree with Swing...that there is also another way.
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I also agree with John/doryman...if your bow tends to seem to "skate," you might wanna just gently wipe the strings ...the part of the strings where the bowing makes contact...on your shirttail in case there's rosin build up. Other than that...happy fiddling to ya and it's a cool thing that you are finally conquering the fiddle monster!  Whichever way you tackle the inevitable issues we all have to deal with...if you keep at it, it all eventually comes together.

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Originally posted by groundhogpeggy

I agree with Swing/David...listen to what you wanna sound like...think about it a lot and then just play, try to play it that way and let it come naturally. Give it time. I mean, some folks are comfortable with micromanaging, etc., but if it wears you out to think about all that (like it does me...lol), then just listen and think and it'll eventually come out like you want. Or if you do get into the micro-managing and ergonomics and all that...go fer it.

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It's Prof. Harold Hill's "Think System" from "The Music Man!"

"If you want to play the Minuet in G, THINK the Minuet in G!"

https://youtu.be/DE8xJpqazOM

My fiddle sat mostly untouched for almost 20 years before I got serious about playing music and about learning the fiddle. I spent a few years playing out with others on mandolin while I got over the most horrible parts of learning to fiddle at home. And now, having gotten used to my student grade fiddle these dozen years, it's always astonishing to play a better quality fiddle. Have you been given an informed opinion on the overall quality of your instrument and bow yet? A violin luthier or a teacher? I've long ignored those who advise not to limit your playing with a poor quality instrument or one that is poorly set up. They're absolutely right, of course.

Of course Prof. Hill advocated the "think" system because he knew nothing about playing or teaching music - he was a complete fraud. Am I seeing things, or is he wearing handcuffs in that last scene? We did "The Music Man" my senior year in high school, but I don't quite remember the plot. A wonderful depiction of small town midwestern life that Meredith Willson remembered from his childhood. Some good songs too!

After fooling with the fiddle now for around 11 years it's kinda hard to remember what things were like when I first began. But, thinking about it now I'm guessing what ever improvement (if any) made over the years was mostly a result of me losing all the tension I seemed to have whenever I picked up the instrument. The constant desire to keep changing stuff like chin rests, shoulder supports, rosin, and bows, etc is almost always a result of being too tense when you first start learning and looking for a quick solution to help improve things. Once I loosened up and started relaxing, and I'm thinking this took a good 4-5 years, a lot of the stuff mentioned above just didn't seem important. Please don't misunderstand. I'm certainly not saying not to spend as much as you can for a decent instrument or having it set up properly by someone who knows what they're doing. Just keep in mind there's no substitute for learning to relax while playing the fiddle. And, keep in mind there's no way you can force this to happen. Just have to keep pluggin along and wait.

Just my 2.5 cents

The first fiddle I bought sat in its case for several years. That wasn't the plan, but it was so difficult to produce a good sound that I would only play briefly. After it sat untouched for a few years I decided one day to take it seriously. This entailed playing every day if only for 15 minutes. I stuck to that for a few years, and the first year was a difficult one to go through. I had a cheap instrument and bow...one of those complete starter packages you got for under $200 at the time. I remember at one point taking it down to the shop where I bought it with the plan to "upgrade" because I could not get it to sound the way I wanted. Sometimes scratchy, sometimes wispy tones...I was certain it was due to low-grade equipment. Joe Dobbs (R.I.P.), the shop owner, took it out of the case and examined it after I told him my issues. Then he took the bow out and tightened it up and proceeded to play through a tune. Well, let's just say it wasn't the fiddle or bow...AT ALL. He knew it was just a lack of experience/skill and he was kind in the way he conveyed this.
You can try swapping out rosin or strings, but I feel that at this early stage in your playing, it is just a lack of experience. Your problem sounds like something to do with the bow being at an odd angle to the strings possibly. It could be that when you change the direction you are pushing or pulling the bow slightly across the string. Try playing in front of a mirror and paying close attention to what you are doing with the bow when you get these undesirable sounds. I agree totally with Rich's suggestion to relax, but man is it hard to do so in those early days of playing. There are a million thoughts going through your mind...do this, don't do that, my intonation sucks, I'm too stiff, breathe, and I hope no one else can hear this. Just stick with it and play daily...you'll get to the other side.

All, I really appreciate the input. You guys have put allot time in your responses and I appreciate it. Thanks!

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Originally posted by DougD

Of course Prof. Hill advocated the "think" system because he knew nothing about playing or teaching music - he was a complete fraud. Am I seeing things, or is he wearing handcuffs in that last scene? We did "The Music Man" my senior year in high school, but I don't quite remember the plot. A wonderful depiction of small town midwestern life that Meredith Willson remembered from his childhood. Some good songs too!

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Yes, the last snippet shows Harold Hill in handcuffs because he's gotten called out as a fraud and is on the verge of being dragged off to prison. He had worked out a perfect con where he could skip town on a train right before he got into trouble, but his unexpected fall for the town's librarian, who is also not the person she's said to be, makes him decide to stay. Two things save him:

1) The librarian destroys the evidence that proves he's not a professor because he's managed to bring her shy little brother out of his shell while wooing her 

2) When he's put to the test by leading the band, it turns out that the parents are all so blinded by pride in their children that they either can't tell that their children have learned nothing and sound awful or aren't willing to acknowledge it.

It's by far my favorite musical and I think it gives a perfect snapshot of Iowa while also providing a loving bit of commentary. The irony is that this musical about a fake music man trying to con his way through the Midwest was written by a masterful music man who built his reputation by actually playing in major orchestras and making and writing excellent music. 

There are Harold Hills everywhere, just as in the musical. 

I guess I oughta watch more tv???? Lol.

If nothing else, watch this:  We've Got Trouble!

Very smooth bowing there. Hardly notceable.

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Originally posted by jblovel

I have a new learner question: when changing directions with the bow, my violin sounds like the bow is slipping on the strings just initially, then puts out a decent tone. This happens more while playing a tune and almost non- existent when playing scales. I try to really control and reduce speed changing direction which seems to help. I use a light resin. I have considered changing to dark. Any suggestions to improve this?

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As mentioned, without seeing, it could be many things. But agree, most often it's about experience, not tools.

Rather than playing scales, or worry about notes/tune... just play around with and exercises that just are about bow control in rhythmic way.

There are some fundamentals not mentioned (often we assume beginners know)... just to go over.

The bow hold. A stiff wrist, hand grab, and just using arm to control, can cause a lot of issues of control. There are many different bow hold to play around with. There are lots of videos of various bow holds... the important aspect is to understand the concept. Learn the role the fingers play in balance and control pressure. Experiment with different fulcrum point of the thumb, first finger. As well the learn importance of the movement in the wrist.

As mentioned, where the bow contacts string, how close/far from bridge. Keeping bow in straight line (rather than arc). On another angle a slight bit of of tilt, as if more one side of bow hair.

Another aspect is where the bow changes occur. Many like to conceive of dividing the bow into thirds. Experiment with each section, noticing different pressure. How the upper third toward tip is different than at frog. Experiment with long bows, vs short bows. 

As mentioned reducing speed, certainly experiment with velocity thru bow stroke. But then aspect of how the bow changes direction. While simply straight linear plane (up/down) and slow down to reverse (maybe even as if from dead stop) is one way; another is a bit of circular motion; round the end of stroke, that carries some of the momentum. Some folks visualize drawing figures, like 8 or cursive e.

Physical of bow hair. Hair tension can affect different sections. As well, that the ends have enough rosin; as you rosin make sure you are not just doing the middle; and as mentioned, dirt or oil (esp toward frog) will make it difficult to rosin to stick to hair. (as well, 30 year old bow hair, might be issue?)

Strings also play a role. First, as mentioned too much old rosin buildup can cause issue, in some cases (unintuitive) actually require more pressure and better control. As well the type of string, one variable quality is responsiveness, in quickness bow change attacks; (trade off with other qualities). Steel/synthetic/gut... can give generalized idea, but different core and wrapping affect this. Even steel first string (E), differences (this is string many beginners struggle with). Just to add, old strings can cause issues, besides wear, oils/dirt... sometimes just age. 

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One exercise, is to purposely try to do it wrong... overdo things, go to extremes; too much pressure, to little, or try to make and squeal and scritches...  Go ahead and get it out of the system . But pay attention to what's happening when you do that. Part of the idea is sometimes the fear of doing it wrong, making bad sounds, leads to timidness and tension... which are part of the issue. Other part is find out what causes bad sound, where limits/extremes are, helps alleviate that, better understand what not to do. Don't be afraid of the bow... dig in... go for it... try make as much sound as you can. 

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Originally posted by jblovel

I became a member 13 years ago with the intention to start playing then. Started playing banjo instead. I found my current violin and bow at a lady’s junk store who got it at an estate sale in 1989. So, I’ve had the violin for 23 years. I’d say it’s about time…..

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You are not alone, so common reminds me of a banjo player once made comment... "am I the only musician that has never owned fiddle, even just in a closet, never had any even inclination?" (nor a guitar)

Might be intersting question to pose on banjo forum.