String instrument
The Cello
The cello sounds deep, warm and strikingly close to the human voice. Played seated, it reaches from a singing melodic line to a supporting bass foundation.
At a glance
The violoncello — cello for short — is a large bowed string instrument, played seated and supported on the floor by an endpin. Its warm, full tone in the tenor and bass registers is held to be especially close to the human voice. Like the violin, it belongs to the family of bowed strings.
History & origins
The cello emerged in the sixteenth century within the violin family. With Johann Sebastian Bach’s six suites for unaccompanied cello at the latest, it was firmly established as a solo instrument in its own right. Famous violin makers such as Stradivari also built outstanding cellos. In the orchestra and in chamber music it has been indispensable ever since.
Construction & how it works
The construction mirrors that of the violin but on a much larger scale: spruce top, maple back, f-holes, soundpost and bass bar within. The extendable endpin carries part of the vibration into the floor and supports the instrument. As with the violin, the tone is produced by a bow strung with horsehair and prepared with rosin.
Sound & tuning
The four strings are tuned in fifths: C, G, d and a — an octave below the viola. From this comes the instrument’s characteristic richness, from sonorous depths to a singing upper register. It is played with the bow (arco) or plucked (pizzicato). As with all bowed strings, the fretless fingerboard calls for a fine ear and clean intonation.
Playing & technique
You sit with the instrument resting between your knees and the endpin on the floor. The left hand stops the strings along the fingerboard, and in the upper registers the thumb comes into play as well (thumb position). The right hand guides the bow and shapes tone and dynamics. Its wide range and expressive power make the cello a remarkably songlike instrument.
Role & repertoire
In the orchestra the cello, together with the double basses, forms the foundation of the sound, yet it takes important melodic lines just as readily. In chamber music — the string quartet, for instance — it is a fixture, and as a solo instrument it commands a rich concert repertoire. The cello is also increasingly popular in pop and crossover.
Getting started at our music school
Children can start from around five or six, since the cello is made in reduced fractional sizes (1/8, 1/4 and 1/2, for example). The right size depends on the child’s height and is worked out together in the lessons; rental instruments are a good solution at the beginning in particular.
Relatives & variants
Within the string family the cello sits between the viola and the double bass. Johann Sebastian Bach’s six solo suites are among the most celebrated works in all music and show the instrument’s full richness. Alongside the classical cello there are also electrically amplified models, used in pop and crossover.
Care & practicalities
The endpin retracts for transport so that the instrument sits safely in its case. Like all bowed strings, the cello dislikes large swings in temperature and humidity. After playing, slacken the bow and wipe away the rosin dust. Because the instrument is large, a well-padded case with carrying straps is worth having.
For beginners: what makes the cello special?
The cello’s sound is often described as the closest of all to the human voice — warm, carrying and moving. Because you sit and rest the instrument comfortably against the body, the posture is pleasant and readily learned. Playing in small ensembles or a string group is possible early on, and the full, sonorous tone is a pleasure from the start. Short, regular practice sessions with an ear for a beautiful tone bring the fastest progress.