Please talk me out of playing the cello...

Fassa Albrecht · #1 03-15-2011, 04:10 PM

Damn you GAS! I think I might have fallen in love with the cello. Seems that a lot of well-known bassists have played or play the cello too (Jack Bruce of Cream being one).

I'm being offered lessons and the temptation to get one and learn to play it is too great.

Anyone else here a cellist?

JTE · #2 03-15-2011, 04:20 PM

Wanted to be, but my parents couldn't swing it back in '64... Along with French horn, its the most beautiful sounding instrument.

GO FOR IT!!!

John

bassbrad · #3 03-15-2011, 04:22 PM

Cello was my other 1st instrument and it is still one of my favorite sounds. Alas the 5ths tuning is beyond my mental grasp anymore.
Add Ron Carter, Ray Brown, Percy Heath and many other jazz players to the list of cello players.

SteveC · #4 03-15-2011, 04:23 PM

The cello is a beautiful instrument. Great range, expressive, lyric, and can play music from renaissance to now, solo, ensemble, electric, etc., etc. I think some of my most expressive players are cellists.

Go for it.

Fassa Albrecht · #5 03-15-2011, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveC

The cello is a beautiful instrument. Great range, expressive, lyric, and can play music from renaissance to now, solo, ensemble, electric, etc., etc. I think some of my most expressive players are cellists.

Go for it.

Not only that, but I've heard amped electric cellos with effects pedals on them and the sound they were getting were great.

Escala anyone?

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassbrad

Cello was my other 1st instrument and it is still one of my favorite sounds. Alas the 5ths tuning is beyond my mental grasp anymore.
Add Ron Carter, Ray Brown, Percy Heath and many other jazz players to the list of cello players.

I have a funny little memory thing for remembering cello, from the highest string (A) to the lowest (C)

Always
Donate to
Good
Causes

I was taught that in music class back when I was 12! And it's possibly the one thing I can actually remember learning..

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTE

Wanted to be, but my parents couldn't swing it back in '64... Along with French horn, its the most beautiful sounding instrument.

GO FOR IT!!!

John

It'll be easier to get into a car I know that...

fdeck · #6 03-15-2011, 04:38 PM

Cello is great. I studied cello from 4th grade through high school, and played my first paying gigs on cello.

Kaleidescapist · #7 03-15-2011, 04:42 PM

I've been a cellist for years and years - my first instrument, actually. Played ridiculous amount of gigs with it, of all sorts. The versatility is outrageously fun - you can play anything, really. And, as someone moving from cello over to bass, I can vouch for the transition being relatively easy. I say do it!

Fassa Albrecht · #8 03-15-2011, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fdeck

Cello is great. I studied cello from 4th grade through high school, and played my first paying gigs on cello.

Quick question for ya then: would the cello be suitable for someone with wrist issues? I originally wanted to play double bass but the thing gave me the wrist issues from hell when I tried to play it. Would the cello be easier on my left (fretting) hand.

walker rosewood · #9 03-15-2011, 05:04 PM

It really is a beautiful instrument. I too started on cello at a young age, and wish I still had one.

I think learning the fifths tuning (or any other tuning other than EADG) is a great way to expand your understanding of theory and music in general.

It shouldn't be too much trouble on your wrist. Prolly not any more then bass guitar is. Doing vibrato correctly may be an issue.

Fassa Albrecht · #10 03-15-2011, 05:12 PM

^that and being able to play without frets is a useful talent in any musical situation.

Yeah, the smaller size of the cello and the resulting smaller spacings are probably going to help my wrist.

RosieB · #11 03-15-2011, 06:01 PM

You're being offered lessons? Go for it! You can never learn too many instruments :-)

ButtUglyJeff · #12 03-15-2011, 06:04 PM

My son is a better bass player because of his 5 years of playing the cello...

fingerbun · #13 03-15-2011, 06:14 PM

Easier to get work with a bass, but the idea of doubling appeals. I have a cheap cello but no time to work on it right now. So I at least got halfway down the road OP is considering.

Rockingbird · #14 03-15-2011, 06:20 PM

I picked up a cello this weekend. It's a very different animal, but very rewarding to play. After figuring out how physically play it, it becomes a number game in trying to adapt pieces you know to it or playing established pieces. Granted, I do everything by ear as I can't read music, but it makes you think nonetheless.

Fassa Albrecht · #15 03-16-2011, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RosieB

You're being offered lessons? Go for it! You can never learn too many instruments :-)

I can play 6 instruments. I don't need more gear GAS...

Quote:

Originally Posted by ButtUglyJeff

My son is a better bass player because of his 5 years of playing the cello...

I found that playing the guitar made me a better bassist. PLaying some other instruments seems to do the same thing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fingerbun

Easier to get work with a bass, but the idea of doubling appeals. I have a cheap cello but no time to work on it right now. So I at least got halfway down the road OP is considering.

Many other musicians I've worked with have been able to double on another instrument. Usually it's guitar, which makes a musician who can double on anything else a boon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockingbird

I picked up a cello this weekend. It's a very different animal, but very rewarding to play. After figuring out how physically play it, it becomes a number game in trying to adapt pieces you know to it or playing established pieces. Granted, I do everything by ear as I can't read music, but it makes you think nonetheless.

I've heard some excellent adaptations of songs to stringed instruments. I've even heard Enter Sandman by Metallica played on violin at a gig I went to.

somedumbguy · #16 03-16-2011, 12:53 AM

Double Basses got their name because many composers didn't know how to compose for that instrument and simply "doubled" the cello parts.

Learning the cello has serious positive results for bass playing. The most naturally talented bass player I ever saw was a young girl who had been playing cello for years. She picked the bass up and after a few days of learning how to pluck properly she was playing some seriously amazing stuff.

Do it!

ShredderMaximus · #17 03-16-2011, 01:12 AM

you should definitely drop cello, it might expand your view on music, and who wants a bassist who plays more than root 5ths?

Chrisk-K · #18 03-16-2011, 01:23 AM

I know a cellist who has a $20,000 all-graphite cello. The tone is out of this world. The OP should play the cello. It's the sexiest instrument in my book.

Fassa Albrecht · #19 03-16-2011, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by somedumbguy

Double Basses got their name because many composers didn't know how to compose for that instrument and simply "doubled" the cello parts.

Doesn't surprise me. I'm learning Pavane on violin at the moment and the band I'm learning this for doesn't have a double bass in it. The score we're using is for a quartet (two violins, cello, contrabass) but the way we're playing it, not much is lost.

Quote:

Learning the cello has serious positive results for bass playing. The most naturally talented bass player I ever saw was a young girl who had been playing cello for years. She picked the bass up and after a few days of learning how to pluck properly she was playing some seriously amazing stuff.

Do it!

Reminds me of a church thing where all the uni students of the church were asked to prepare a service, and this included getting any musician who was in the student group to play the music. The same friend who let me play her cello this time was playing at this service. I jokingly handed her my bass and she somehow played this fantastic bassline (once she'd gotten used to the tuning).

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShredderMaximus

you should definitely drop cello, it might expand your view on music, and who wants a bassist who plays more than root 5ths?

People take notice when you've got a cello in your hands....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrisk-K

I know a cellist who has a $20,000 all-graphite cello. The tone is out of this world. The OP should play the cello. It's the sexiest instrument in my book.

0_o That must be the Alembic of all cellos...or Status.

faiz0802 · #20 03-16-2011, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fassa Albrecht

Damn you GAS! I think I might have fallen in love with the cello. Seems that a lot of well-known bassists have played or play the cello too (Jack Bruce of Cream being one).

I'm being offered lessons and the temptation to get one and learn to play it is too great.

Anyone else here a cellist?

Do. It.

PS - Check PM's.