Question for you all who also play cello . . .

Discussion in 'Orchestral Technique [DB]' started by Jack Clark, Apr 5, 2012.

  1. Jack Clark

    Jack Clark Guest

    Aug 17, 2008
    Idyllwild, California
    I spent 20 hours over the last six days watching a cellist play mostly classical music in a string trio. She used the 4th finger of her left hand a lot, but she also made a lot of use of her 3rd finger—not just as a helper to her fourth finger, but as a note player in its own right.

    My question is: Does this have something to do with the cello being tuned in 5ths, low-to-high? Or is it simply because her string scale is that much shorter?
     
  2. Matt Ides

    Matt Ides

    May 12, 2004
    Minneapolis, MN
    shorter string length means 4 finger approach down low. This might help.
     
  3. tstone

    tstone

    Nov 16, 2010
    San Francisco, CA
    Cello has about the same scale length as a classical guitar, so guitar-style 1-2-3-4 fingering is logical and easy.
     
  4. Jack Clark

    Jack Clark Guest

    Aug 17, 2008
    Idyllwild, California
    Thanks, guys. And thanks for the link, Matt, it's a nice source for cello drones, too, isn't it?
     
  5. Jack Clark

    Jack Clark Guest

    Aug 17, 2008
    Idyllwild, California
    BTW, check out this one-minute youtube video and see if you are asking yourself (as I was): "Who is playing that blazing-fast melody line?"

    If you're still mystified by the time the piece is over, the other two give it away.

    The Inspiration String Trio - YouTube