Choosing a Cello: A Practical Buying Guide
Choosing a cello differs from choosing a violin or viola: its sizes come in standard fractions, the instrument is large, and setup matters especially much. Here are the key points. Size: Chosen by Height, in Standard Fractions Unlike the viola, the cello comes in standard fractional sizes — 4/4 (full), 3/4, 1/2, 1/4 and so on — chosen by height and age. Rough guide: 4/4 for roughly age 15 and up, or about 150 cm tall; 3/4 for about ages 11–15; 1/2 for about 7–11; 1/4 for about 5–7. Most adults use 4/4; adults with smaller hands or a smaller frame may consider a 7/8. Check the seated posture: sitting with the cello, the left hand should reach the fingerboard naturally, bowing should feel easy, and the body should rest comfortably against you. A teacher’s check is most reliable. Sound and Pattern The cello shares the viola’s four strings (C–G–D–A) but an octave lower, with a deep, full voice often described as the closest in the string family to the human voice. ...