Abstract: It is rosin that provides the physical basis of playing violin instruments, i.e. stick-slip between bow and string and hence the genesis of self-excited vibration of string. The tribological concept concerning rosin in playing violin instrument is briefly summarized in this study. Accordingly, the experimental investigation of rosin tribology on laboratory-based evaluation should include: (1) types of rosin, preparation and validity of samples for tribological tests, (2) choice of types of tribo-meters. Two kinds of commercially available rosins for cello and a kind of rosin for industry application were chosen in this study. Two kinds of liquid-solid processes, i.e. melting-solidification and solvent-evaporation, were utilized to fabricate rosin coating and rosin bulk material. The tribological properties of the rosin coatings and rosin bulk material were evaluated on a reciprocating tribo-meter with a ball-on-disk configuration. Findings indicated that the data of the tribological property for rosin coating by solvent-evaporation were good in term of repeatability. The tribogical properties of rosin were characterized as friction reduction, stick-slip, and dust wear. These were related to process of coating and bulk material, thickness of rosin coating, and counterpart material.