Hi, can anyone explain what wolf notes are and also what causes them? I keep coming across the phrase and I'm puzzled as to what it means

Any hollow body has a primary resonant frequency, e.g. if you blow across the top of a bottle you get a definite pitch sounding. Stringed instruments are equally such hollow bodies and have a number of internal resonances due to their complex shape (eigenmodes I think is the term in acoustics). So, a wolf note is essentially a note at which one of these resonances is excited. The term "wolf" comes from the fact that if the problem is severe, the bow cannot easily retain contact with the string and is momentarily forced off it, which causes a string harmonic or other high-frequency sound to be generated: this arguably sounds like a wolf howling . To the listener, a wolf note which is not actually howling sounds a bit louder and coarser in tone than other notes.

A wolf note around F-F# is quite typical on cellos, and is usually most prominent in 4th position on the G-string. Both "good" and "not-so-good" cellos have them, and professional players can work around the wolf note by good bowing. However, for a beginner it's better to use a cello without too severe a wolf note problem. Other stringed instruments can have wolf notes, but the problem is generally significantly less severe.

The following steps can minimise the effect of a wolf note:
1. Use different strings or combinations of strings - the internal damping of a string affects the wolf note.
2. Use lower-tension versions of the string chosen (dolce/soft).
3. Use less tension in the bow hair.
4. Bow nearer the fingerboard.
5. Bow less aggressively on this note.
6. A different rosin may give more secure string to bow-hair contact.
7. Different bows excite the wolf note to different extents.
8. Use a wolf note eliminator, e.g. http://www.cellos2go.com/wolf.htm .
9. Have the sound-post adjusted.

If you use a wolf note "eliminator" (in reality a "minimiser"), the following options affect its utility:
1. Its weight;
2. The string it is put on (usually G or C);
3. Its distance from the bridge;
4. Its rotational orientation.

Here's an article to read: http://www.stringsmagazine.com/article/129...nstrument-1.asp

Simple, eh?

Yes my 'cello has one there, and my good bass has one in the corresponding position (shoulder note on the third string) which is G on the A string. I don't recall hearing about wolf notes on upper strings; do they have them?

My son's 'cello teacher reckoned that all good instruments have one. You learn to bow gently near it.

Thankyou both for this information, very interesting indeed and seems to be more common with the cello than the violin. I wondered if I experience somthing similar on the e string of my fiddle as very occasionally when I bow it and its only on the e string I get no note at all just a muted squeak!

This just sounds like "mis-bowing", e.g. losing bow/string contact, or bow not at right-angles, or too close to the bridge, or too high bow tension, etc.

Make sure to clean the strings of rosin at the end (or beginning) of each playing session, and apply fresh rosin when needed.

Have the bow regularly rehaired as necessary.

If the problem persists, you could consider a change of either rosin or E string.

Good luck.

Thanks for the advice and tips Storini, gonna check this out , I have inherited a violin my Dad made and in all honesty I cant say that I've noticed it happen when I've played this, so it could be I need a new e string on my old fiddle. I have recently started cleaning the rosin off of my strings as I had never been told to do this before and it is amazing the difference that makes. The other thing you will probably cringe at ... I never change my strings unless they snap... so maybe I need to start being a violinist instead of a fiddle player tee hee. At least I have a check list to work to and if that doesnt sort it I will have to get some advice to improve my bowing!

Violin E strings just have a habit of occasional squeaking, usually at a most inappropriate moment. The highest risk of it happening is when crossing from another string onto an open E and it is probably linked to the way the bow hair catches the string. Since the E string is plain metal with no winding, the grip afforded by the bow hair must be far less regardless of rosin type or quantity used.

Several string manufacturers now produce anti-squeak E strings - Pirastro are just one such company. Hill E strings tend not to squeak so much either.

I'm using Dominants at the moment so I might try Pirastro, my strings are probably ready for changing any way I have a habit of only changing them when they snap!