Strings Rosin Metronomes Tuners Endpin Anchors
Strings
- Strings should be replaced every 6-12 months, depending on how frequently you play your cello
- Prices vary by the materials used in the string. Usually, more advanced (and therefore more expensive)
strings will be more resonant and be capable of a greater variety of tone qualities.
- Not all strings sound good on all cellos or with all players. You may have to test several varieties or
combinations before you find the perfect match
- Not all strings come in smaller sizes; 1/8 and 1/4 cellos are particularly limited in choices.
- Many strings come in different tensions, described as: soft/weich, medium/mittel, or heavy/stark/forte. Always
buy the medium tension, unless your teacher or luthier has told you otherwise.
Rosin
- Many experts say that rosin should be replaced every 1-2 years
- Higher quality rosin will give your bow more grip with less dusty residue
- New bows are very difficult to rosin if your rosin is also new. Try breaking your new rosin in with a bow that
already has rosin on it, and always rosin a new bow with a rosin chunk that's been used.
- WARNING FOR DOG OWNERS: Dogs have been know to chew on or even consume rosin chunks, so watch
your pets whenever rosin is out, and always put it away in a safe place.
Metronomes
- The newer digital metronomes have many features that can assist with counting, such as the ability to mark
different rhythms and accent specific beats. Some of these, however, may mark the beat with a higher -
sounding beep, which not all cellists can tolerate, so listen to the model in which you're interested before
buying it.
*Combination tuner/metronome
Tuners
- Cellists must have a chromatic tuner. This means a tuner that can detect all the different pitches, rather than a
guitar/bass tuner, which will only detect the pitches of a guitar's strings.
- Cellists need a higher-quality tuner than many instruments, because our two lowest strings are in a register that
many less expensive tuners have difficulty detecting.
- To get the best bang for your buck, look for a tuner that will do three things: tune a pitch automatically (will tune
any pitch played into it), manually (will tune only a specific pitch), and will play pitches as well.
*Combination tuner/metronome
Endpin Anchors
- The devices that hold your endpin in place go by many names: rock stops, slip stops, enpin straps
- When choosing an endpin anchor, consider whether you want one that's small and portable, or something
bulkier with a strap, but more secure.
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