So it’s time to shop for a bow. You take your instrument to your favorite shop and are stunned by the array of options: do you want round or octagonal, fiberglass or carbon-fiber, stiff or more flexible? How do you decide which is best? Here’s a list of six essential elements to consider when selecting a bow, and a checklist and rating system that should help you distinguish your dream bow from all the rest. Clip this checklist and take it with you when shopping for that next bow.

1 Type of Material Brazilwood (prices usually seen between $50 and $200); pernambuco (priced anywhere from $100 to $10,000 or more); fiberglass (usually the lowest-priced option); carbon-fiber (priced anywhere between $50 to several thousand dollars).

2 Sound Look for a bow that will give a smooth broad sound and at the same time possess great clarity of focus and the quickness of response that comes from a stronger, stiffer bow.

3 Weight and Balance Average bow weights are: Violin, 60 grams; viola, 70 grams; cello, 80 grams. Look for a bow that feels right in your hand. To test the weight, pick up a bow and hold it at a 45-degree angle. It should feel natural in the hand—well balanced from tip to frog with equal weight throughout.

4 Shape Round or octagonal? With two bows made from the same wood, the octagonal shaft will be stiffer. Some octagonal bows are quite stiff, creating a hard, one-dimensional tone, lacking nuance. Some of the German commercial-bow producers make a round and octagonal version of the same bow, the octagonal being a bit more expensive. This has added to the myth that octagonal bows are better.

5 Price Establish a budget, but do expect to look at bows that are a little more expensive. If you don’t know much about bows, try lots of bows to educate yourself about what is available.

6 Test When you go to a shop, be sure to bring your own violin and current bow as a benchmark. Each bow will perform differently on different instruments, so remember that you’re looking for a bow that complements your violin. I normally show six bows at a time.

Once you’ve chosen one or two from that batch, ask to see more. Play the same very brief passage with each bow, one right after another. Be patient and consistent, and there’s a good chance that one or two bows will stand out.