Learn Cello your way with a TakeLessons expert

Congratulations! You have started learning the ways of the cello, welcome young padawan. Let’s talk about how to make sounds other than our open strings, look at a basic cello fingering chart, and talk about positions. On cello we will eventually use all five fingers of the left hand to reach to the farthest extents of our physical abilities, but for now, let’s focus on just four.  On cello, we number our fingers from 1 to 4 starting on our index finger, like so:       The

In my last article we looked at jazz cello and some of the possibilities for our instrument in this style. First by imitating the sound of a native jazz instrument (double bass) and then expanding the jazz cello’s vocabulary, so to speak, by imitating artists like Fred Katz and Mark Summer. I emphasized a tiered approach to understanding the genre, first with harmonic and then melodic practice. With exposure to many styles, you can build your unique cello sound and learn to make good melodic m

The cello that we have today in orchestras, chamber ensembles, or on stage is not the same cello that our good friends, Bach or Handel once used. Although this evolution has not been incredibly drastic in the way that many other instruments have changed and evolved over the years. Visually, there are only slight differences between the baroque cello and the modern cello.  What Does "Baroque" Mean, Anyway? For those of us that are not familiar with the term Baroque and what that means rega

Pursuing a career in music is a risky decision, because by the nature of the industry few artists can “make it big.” Most artists aren’t pop stars, or even full-time career musicians, and all musicians also teach to remedy this. There are many paths to becoming a professional cello player, and depending on where you start it might be easy or hard to earn a reputation and start making money. I followed an academic path, studying classical music at university and then continuing my research

Whenever I tell someone that I play cello they ask if I know that one cello song. Obviously the answer is yes and that piece is the Prelude of Bach’s first Cello Suite in G major. This piece is not the beginning nor is it the end of our repertoire but it is a bedrock. So, how do we get from learning your strings to playing Bach’s cello suites and beyond? Well, I have a few recommendations! What Books Do You Need to Get Started With Beginner Cello Music   Firstly, if you are playing

The cello is a beautiful instrument, capable of producing a wide range of sounds. In order to create such beautiful music, the cello must be crafted with care and precision. In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at the cello and some of its parts.  By understanding the different parts of the cello and how they work together, you'll have a greater appreciation for this instrument.  What Are the Main Parts of a Cello? A cello is a stringed instrument that is played with a bow. I

Practice is to a musician what training is to an athlete: it must occur regularly for the optimal condition to be achieved. Instead of going to the gym for our training, musicians practice at home ourselves, so it is very important to set up where you will practice purposefully. This article will help you design your cello practice space according to specific needs, and discuss how to use certain practice tools effectively. There are some compromises and alternatives for this equipment, but eve

Learning to use the bow is the least intuitive part of playing the cello. Most beginners are afraid their bow will slide off the strings or they will drop it. I recommend practicing in front of a mirror so you can visually inspect your bow habits. This article cannot replace a teacher’s direct guidance in establishing a bow hold, but I hope to give you some basic advice to improve your current cello bow technique in two areas: the bow hold and the bow use. Cello Bow Hold To set up a good

The decision on whether to rent or purchase an instrument depends on so many things. This kind of decision is akin to purchasing a car with all of the same stress (and sometimes, even more!) I know that sounds scary initially and finding the right instrument, as well as deciding how to acquire it, is a nuisance. In this guide, we'll look at some of the pros and cons of renting a cello.  Some Initial Things to Consider When Choosing Between Renting a Cello & Buying a Cello Let's take a closer

Cello thumb position is one of the big leaps of technique for advancing cellists and is one of the skills that sets more advanced students from the intermediate. This new technique opens up the higher ranges of the instrument and allows us to play more advanced solos and etudes. This technique is not something you should rush into though! Make sure to take things slowly at first and master the basic concepts before moving on.  When Should You Focus on Your Cello Thumb Position? There have to