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How to play and hold a cello? Tips for beginners

by Dusan Radusinovic Last Updated June 21, 2022

Dusan Radusinovic

Dusan is a versed musician with more than a decade of experience in the industry, including countless live performances as a professional DJ. He has a Bachelors’s in Musical Theory and hands-on experience with all sorts of musical instruments. In addition to that, he’s also a talented writer and content creator, with a passion for all things tech. Musical Training and Background Like most professional musicians, he too started discovering his love for music and instruments at quite a young age. His first love was the piano, which he played even before starting grammar school.

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Cello is a popular musical instrument that belongs to the string family. It is similar to the violin but is slightly larger in size. The cello is held between the legs and played with both hands. The left hand fingers press the strings while the right hand bow produces the sound.

If you are a beginner, it is important to learn how to play and hold the cello correctly. To make it easier for you, Consordini team created tips and video suggestions for you, so here we go!

How to hold a cello?

– Sit up straight when playing cello. This will help you use your muscles more efficiently and prevent back pain.

– Place the cello between your legs, with the endpin resting on the floor. The top of the cello should be close to your chin.

– Hold the bow in your right hand and place your thumb on the back of the bow, near the frog.

– Use your first three fingers to hold the bow. The index finger should be placed on top of the bow, while the middle and ring fingers should be underneath.

– Rest your pinky finger on the side of the bow or on your thigh for support.

– Hold the cello so that your left hand can easily reach all four strings. You may need to adjust your grip as you play different notes on the cello.

– Place your left thumb behind the neck of the cello and curl your fingers around the strings.

– Use your first three fingers (index, middle, and ring) to press down on the strings. Your pinky finger should not touch the string.

– The pressure you apply to the strings will determine the sound produced by the cello. Experiment with different amounts of pressure to produce different sounds.

How to set and hold a cello peg?

– Make sure that the peg is inserted into the correct hole. There should be a small dot or line indicating which hole is for which peg.

– Once the peg is inserted, use your thumb and first two fingers to hold it in place. Wrap your index finger around the shaft of the peg, and place your thumb and middle finger on either side of the head of the peg.

– Apply pressure evenly with your fingers and turn the peg slowly until it is tight. Be careful not to over-tighten the peg, as this can damage the instrument.

– Once the peg is tight, use your pinky finger to hold it in place while you remove your other fingers.

We have another suggestion in the video below!

How to hold a cello bow?

Next thing that is essential is learning how to hold a cello bow.

The correct way to hold the bow is with the thumb and the first two fingers positioned around the frog (the widowed part near the hand grip). The pinky finger and ring finger rest underneath the stick, while the middle finger floats in mid-air. The player should keep a light grip on the bow and let the weight of the arm do the work.

Take a look at our video, where we presented a detailed explanation of everything you need to do to hold the bow properly in any situation!

How to play the cello? Tips for beginners

There are four main types of strokes used when playing the cello: legato, staccato, martelé, and spiccato. Legato strokes are smooth and connected, while staccato strokes are short and detached. Martelé strokes are forceful and accented, and spiccato strokes are light and bouncy.

When playing the cello, it is important to use the correct amount of pressure. Too much pressure will cause the sound to be harsh, while too little pressure will make the sound muted. The right amount of pressure will produce a clear, resonant tone.

There is another video about how to play spiccato style!

Hope those groups of information helped you get to know cello better. In case you still need some assistance, feel free to visit our Youtube channel and find some more useful tips and tricks for you!

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