10. FAQ

For some reason you’ve landed on the cello as your instrument of choice. Maybe you like the sound, or you like classic music, of which the cello is an indispensable part. And now you’re asking yourself whether you can actually learn to play it.

Learning a string instrument can certainly be a bit confusing at the beginning because the notes aren’t so clearly defined as on a piano or guitar. There are no frets with which you can orient yourself. For this reason it usually takes a bit longer for people to get a feel for the tones and pitches. In the early stages it can be helpful to place pieces of tape or dots under the strings to orient yourself with. As with any instrument it is useful to get an experienced teacher and to regularly practice.

Nope! Although the cello has its place in every classical orchestra and in chamber music it can also be heard in other genres and styles. One of the better known examples is the Finnish rock group Apocalyptica, who play both their own and well known metal music on cellos. It is also often heard in Argentinian ‘’New Tango’’ music. Furthermore it has its place in Jazz, although it is not used nearly as frequently as the double bass. In any case there are plenty of arrangements of modern compositions or songs made for the cello.

That is a question isn’t so easy to answer. To offer a small bit of guidance: It’s best to just give it a try and take a few lessons. Of course your reasons behind wanting to play matter, as a little motivation goes a long way. Probably the biggest difference is the way a cello is held and played versus a violin. You play it sitting down and there is no need to hold it up, which many musicians find more agreeable. However there are plenty of violin players who aren’t bothered at all by holding the instrument up at their neck.

Play wise (grip, fingering etc.) the cello is vastly different from the violin. On a violin you can quite easily play four notes one after another or play a scale without moving your hand position. With the cello, the distances between the strings are much larger, it is usually only possible to hit three notes at once, making a lot of position changes necessary during scales or melodies. This means that you can’t automatically play a cello because you know how to play violin. But it is very helpful to have some experience with string instruments so you have a feel for how to find the right notes without any frets.

Sure, but if your hands are really to small there is always the possibility to use a 7/8 cello.

Sure! There are many people who only start learning an instrument as adults. So there is nothing stopping you from buying a cello, finding a teacher, and starting to practice. Before you do though make sure you have a place where you can practice and create music, in addition you should consider what you want to achieve, e.g. which style you want to play. As an adult you will learn differently than say, a child would, sometimes faster and sometimes slower. But you should still pick a teacher that has experience with the style you're interested in.