Ask Augustin 37 - E String Whistles

E string whistles are an annoying problem, and don't have only one single cause. The condition of the instrument has a lot to do with the phenomenon of whistling. Is the E string old? Some brands are also more prone to whistling than others. Is there a lot of rosin residue on the string? Not enough rosin on the bow? Are you missing a lot of bow hair? Is the violin out of adjustment or in need of repair? These are all questions we have to ask when the E string is whistling a lot. Even humidity can play a role. Whistles happen when the friction that the bow creates with the string is not sufficient to get it to ring properly - it instead rings at a high overtone. If the condition of bow and violin and string are good, then the cause is generally to be found in the bow change to the E string, which has to be smooth but firm enough to properly grip the string. If the angle of the bow isn't straight, that can cause whistling because it can make the contact point of the hair on the string less stable. If your violin is prone to whistling, playing more with full hair rather than with the bow angled to the side can make it easier to avoid whistles in some cases. With so many factors contributing to whistling, I usually go through a quick "checklist" when my E string whistles and can generally avoid it from happening again.