TalkCello - Bass Players here learning the Cello

[Hues]

There's a ton of Cello how-tos on YouTube....I've watched a number of them in the past, just out of curiosity and appreciation for the instrument.

 

[eyvindwa]

Great thread! I have an NS Design NXTa electric cello, and I'm learning online with a teacher. Have been going at it for a couple of years now. There really seems to be no community like TB for cello, so this thread seems like a great place to start.

This is more or less the level I am at at the moment:

 

[Ooba Tooba]

Always appreciated the sounds of a cello and my first girlfriend played one in school so occasionally I’d “fiddle” about on it. Recently picked one up (and also a violin)

to record some parts of a song I wrote that demanded it. Took about 45 minutes of practice at home and 3 or 4 tries in the studio to get my good take. I need many hours to actually feel good about playing it but tools in the toolbox…

 

[logdrum]

Sort of of Contra Cello a 1/2 size bass 38 scale tuned CGDA - cello tuning octave down

I also have a baritone sax which has a low A which is equal to the C of a cello. I have done a couple etudes lately that are for cello

 

[pglaser01]

Please OH PLEASE tell me I get to be the very first one on talkbass to say this…..

What’s the best cello for metal?

 

[Old Blastard]

1997-2003 I learned cello beside my 2nd-grader and continued for a few years after. Even played Hindemith's "Drei Leichte Stücke" before a live, studio audience. Then I just stopped due to money issues, work/time constraints and a failing marriage. Still have it. Have often thought of reviving lessons. Maybe I shall

 

[Joshua Pickenpaugh]

I played around with ‘cello back in college after I heard Dave Holland’s ‘cello album, “Life Cycle”. I wasn’t very successful at learning the instrument but the album is amazing!

 

[groooooove]

I thought I'd put this out there and see if there is any interest in a single thread for people who might have slipped on a banana peel down the rabbit hole and are trying to learn the cello like me.

If there is no interest, we can just delete this. Peace.

i feel like i have some insight to offer here.

of course i was a bass guitarist in my youth and played professionally in various settings throughout college. studied double bass in college, and now full time orchestra teacher.

i've actually had several cello students over the years who were switching from guitar or something else. obviously, i've also had many dozens if not hundreds of beginner cello students.

I feel somewhat strongly that an adult can work themselves through "essential elements" book 1 for cello. start with plucking, but if you are already a bass player it should not be too hard.

the reason for starting pizzicato is to make sure the left hand is pressing the note down clearly. if you cant get a clear plucked tone, your bow sound will be very bad.

as a musician learning cello as a new instrument, once you've sorted out some basics of where the notes are on the fingerboard (up to example number 90 or so in e.e. book 1) i very strongly suggest finding a teacher in person to learn how to hold and use the bow.

regardless of whether you've played an instrument with a bow before, learning from a cellist how to use a cello bow will set you up for success. there is so much finesse and fine details to using the bow. I often tell my students the different between a good and a great player is the degree to which they emphasize their bow use when learning, and when warming up for daily practice.

if you cannot possibly find a teacher (contact local school orchestra teachers, any college with a music department, etc.) just be aware that bow use is sound production. between your posture, shoulder, elbow, wrist, thumb, fingers, there are many variables that can cause comfort, discomfort, good sound, awful sound, pleasure, stress.... you get my drift.

another tip coming from years of teaching these instruments is to have short, medium, and long term goals. write 'em down. a long term goal does not need to be a complete brahms sonata. it can be to play the simpsons theme song, or something like that. your long term goal should be achievable. but having them makes practice more effective i find.

and lastly... enjoy it!! the cello has so much amazing repertoire, and such a nearly ideal tone color. it is without a doubt a worthwhile endeavor. on days where your fingers have had enough i'd suggest taking in some of the amazing repertoire that is available to us..



regardless of whether i'm actively playing cello or not, a young steven isserlis gets me motivated every single time...

 

[bassicmike]

i feel like i have some insight to offer here.

of course i was a bass guitarist in my youth and played professionally in various settings throughout college. studied double bass in college, and now full time orchestra teacher.

i've actually had several cello students over the years who were switching from guitar or something else. obviously, i've also had many dozens if not hundreds of beginner cello students.

I feel somewhat strongly that an adult can work themselves through "essential elements" book 1 for cello. start with plucking, but if you are already a bass player it should not be too hard.

the reason for starting pizzicato is to make sure the left hand is pressing the note down clearly. if you cant get a clear plucked tone, your bow sound will be very bad.

as a musician learning cello as a new instrument, once you've sorted out some basics of where the notes are on the fingerboard (up to example number 90 or so in e.e. book 1) i very strongly suggest finding a teacher in person to learn how to hold and use the bow.

regardless of whether you've played an instrument with a bow before, learning from a cellist how to use a cello bow will set you up for success. there is so much finesse and fine details to using the bow. I often tell my students the different between a good and a great player is the degree to which they emphasize their bow use when learning, and when warming up for daily practice.

if you cannot possibly find a teacher (contact local school orchestra teachers, any college with a music department, etc.) just be aware that bow use is sound production. between your posture, shoulder, elbow, wrist, thumb, fingers, there are many variables that can cause comfort, discomfort, good sound, awful sound, pleasure, stress.... you get my drift.

another tip coming from years of teaching these instruments is to have short, medium, and long term goals. write 'em down. a long term goal does not need to be a complete brahms sonata. it can be to play the simpsons theme song, or something like that. your long term goal should be achievable. but having them makes practice more effective i find.

and lastly... enjoy it!! the cello has so much amazing repertoire, and such a nearly ideal tone color. it is without a doubt a worthwhile endeavor. on days where your fingers have had enough i'd suggest taking in some of the amazing repertoire that is available to us..



regardless of whether i'm actively playing cello or not, a young steven isserlis gets me motivated every single time...

Absolutely awesome post.

 

[groooooove]

Absolutely awesome post.

if my masters degree in music education plus ~15 years of being a music teacher can benefit anyone, i'm glad it's tb members interested in learning a bowed string instrument

 

[Anne Millington]

I also have a baritone sax which has a low A which is equal to the C of a cello. I have done a couple etudes lately that are for cello

Love baritone sax! I got to play one in my college band!

 

[logdrum]

Love baritone sax! I got to play one in my college band!

I have been playing sax for a while (over 33 years but only started with Baritone in May 2022 - I should have started sooner

 

[logdrum]

if my masters degree in music education plus ~15 years of being a music teacher can benefit anyone, i'm glad it's tb members interested in learning a bowed string instrument

You just need to go to the double bass section of this forum. https://www.talkbass.com/categories/general-forums-db.44/ We have been discussiong rosins, merits of various colors of horse hair, basses costing more than some houses and strings that cost $800 for forever -- since I joined in 2002.

 

[Anne Millington]

In case anyone here hasn't seen it, this is a pretty great cello site. Lots of material on both technique and repertoire:
Cello Fun – transcriptions for cello, cello pedagogy

Thanks for this link! I am a cellist first, and a semi-fake bassist second, but I love TB because of the vibe and the people! The cello forums I used to frequent are informative, yes, but way too "well, enough about me; what do you think about me?"

My husband, also a cellist/teacher, has a number of adult students who started out on piano or violin, and wanted to play cello. They are all doing well, and loving it, including a guy who is about 90% deaf and relies on hand position and vibration of the instrument. So, persevere!

My best unsolicited advice is get a teacher to start you up, and get a mirror to keep you honest.

We have a ton of 2-cello arrangements that we play commercially, and are happy to share.

 

[Federighi]

I've had the privilege to study double bass and violoncello with exceptional music educators and performers in my music career and happy to share some of my experience(s).

As @groooooove mentioned, finding a competent teacher is the most important factor to properly learning a new instrument. The cello requires great physicality, much more so than the double bass imo.

Suzuki book 1 Suzuki Cello School, Volume 1 is a fair enough starting place and when you begin to feel more comfortable at the instrument, I would suggest Dotzauer, J Friedrich - Method for Cello, Volume 1 - Cello solo - edited by Johnannes Klingenberg - Carl Fischer Edition and later, Feuillard, Louis - 60 Etudes For The Young Cellist - Cello solo - Delrieu Edition for advancing studies. These are all very good fundamental studies to help you build your technique. There will be MANY disciplines that you'll be working on at the same time and be sure to use your practice time wisely by focusing on specific techniques. Over time and familiarity you should begin to develop an understanding of your own progress.

Aside from finding an accomplished teacher, the first things I'd suggest are a metronome, pitch drone and possibly an orchestral tuner for intonation studies. I still do long tone exercises to this day. My #1 advice is to LISTEN carefully to what you hear. Recording yourself will expose everything.

Here's a pic of my newly acquired 1937 Georges Apparut French violoncello. Took me 8 months to finally make my decision across three string workshops and four counties. It is an incredibly fine instrument and has allowed my playing to really blossom.

GL!

 

[bassicmike]

My best unsolicited advice is get a teacher to start you up, and get a mirror to keep you honest.

That's exactly what my teacher told me during our last lesson! My bowing has become sloppy and he said use a mirror to monitor where the bow is.

 

[Anne Millington]

Here's a pic of my newly acquired 1937 Georges Apparut French violoncello.

Pretty! What does the back look like?

 

[SBassman]

This is great. I'm so happy a few people found this thread.

Should we grow this as a Megathread here or should I create a Facebook group for this?

Wherever we stay, I Do think the vibe will be much more to some of our liking.
Looking to facilitate friendly, non-super-conservative dialog about learning the cello in adulthood.

Looking to be able to have a meaningful dialog on affordable bows that don't get in the way, without an army of entitled, wealthy people telling me that if my bow isn't 4 figures in price, it's junk.

Let's grow this - somewhere.

Happy, meaningful Memorial Day to those in the U.S. Have Sunday to everyone else.

 

[SBassman]

My cello. No, I didn't have 5K, or 2K, or 1K for it. I found a modest priced Used cello from a shop about 80 miles from me. Was worth the drive. It's a Juzek. Not sure of the precise model.

 

[groooooove]

Pretty! What does the back look like?

"expensive," i bet that's what it looks like

it does look like a really nice instrument!



while we're ogling at beautiful instruments, this cello was made from the same wood (same tree?) as my double bass, and of course is by the same maker, and it is i think the best sounding cello i've ever heard.

she's an amazing musician as well.