Learn Cello your way with a TakeLessons expert

Who made your cello? Who carved the body, stained, varnished, and assembled the instrument, including the label visible through the f-hole which bears their signature? Many musicians consider the maker of their instrument, or luthier, a point of pride. There are famous luthiers, like Stradivari and Guarneri, whose names are synonymous with masterpieces of craftsmanship. These masters innovated many of the standards for modern stringed instruments, and so many luthiers might include on the la

This year musicians have been practicing alone at home more than rehearsing with each other. Even though COVID-19 stopped the multi-musician rehearsals and gigs, I know it is important to keep my technique under my fingers for when they do return. One way to keep up your practice routine while still remaining socially distant is to find cello solo sheet music, or pieces you can practice by yourself. Finding the Music Searching for music online has its pros and cons, as discussed in “Wher

A 5 string cello is exactly what it sounds like: a traditional cello with an added string. This instrument is tuned in one of two ways: with a high e’ or a low E. To accommodate the additional e/E string, a 5 string cello has a slightly wider neck, and shorter body. Different versions of the instrument have existed through its 300-year history. However, it has always been viewed in the shadow of the four-string cello. This is because history’s most famous cellists have written and perfor

Choosing whether to play the violin or cello can be difficult, but this article will help you consider the advantages and disadvantages of each.  The violin and cello are two of the most well-known and commonly studied instruments in the string family. Each one is central to the makeup of the orchestra we know today. Becoming familiar with the pros and cons of these two instruments will help you decide whether the violin or cello is a better fit for you. Is it Easier to Play Violin or C

Tuning your cello correctly is one of the most important skills you will learn in early lessons. Learning the cello tuning notes and the correct methods for different rehearsal and performance settings will set you apart. Good intonation can be the deciding factor between an excellent performance and a disastrous one, but if your strings aren’t in tune then it is sure to be a disaster. Today, we will discuss the right way to tune your cello in different settings, and the different versions

Where can a cellist go to get easy cello sheet music, and how can you tell if the music is good? My cello students don’t just learn classical repertoire, because if you play the same music every single day then your sound will grow uninspired and stale. Not to say classical is boring (I love classical!), but sometimes you need to practice outside your comfort zone. Some days, you might feel like working on fundamentals in a new genre, like jazz. Other times, you just want to have fun jammin

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

Image Source / DigitalVision / Getty Images Many beginning musicians wonder, “Is cello hard to learn?” The process of learning the cello is not difficult, but it’s important to keep in mind that the cello is not an instrument of instant gratification. It does require focused, daily practice time and a good teacher to guide you along the way. How far you progress with cello is a direct result of the amount of quality time you put into practicing the instrument. Even someone who puts

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

Let’s face it - the world isn’t always set up to help people who are left handed! If you play the cello, you might be wondering, “can you play the cello left-handed”? The short answer to this question is…well, kind of. However, there are considerations you will need to make before deciding to play in the cello left hand position - or before going out to buy a left handed cello, for that matter.  First, what do we mean when we say “left handed”? Handedness is the sense tha