Hi everyone .. I'm a newbie and depending on the answer may well disappear altogether !
Here's why,
I have fingers missing on both my hands (just before someone says try left handed), to be more exact I have a full index finger .. then the next two fingers are missing from the knuckle and the little pinky is ok. As this was from birth its no problem (I work in IT, can type as fast as the next man, and can manage a few songs on the bass guitar - mainly index finger only , although the neck is too wide to be comfortable).
My question is can the cello be played to any degree by moving your index finger around alot (to compensate for not moving between lots of strings) similar to what I did on the bass ? I know I will never be playing world tour concerts, but I only want to play for me anyway.
If one of you guys could try an easy song with one finger and let me know - it will give me hope / let me down before I rush into things (not anywhere to rent around here).
Cheers,
My question is can the cello be played to any degree by moving your index finger around alot (to compensate for not moving between lots of strings) similar to what I did on the bass ?
Except in first position, the cello is necessarily played by moving your index finger (and other fingers) around a lot (note spelling; a lot is two words) already.
It's clear you'll need to use a non-traditional technique, but I suspect only someone in precisely your situation could describe that technique in detail.
You say you are missing fingers from each hand, but you don't seem to say which fingers for both hands. If you have more fingers or stronger fingers intact on your right hand, it still might be worth your while to play left-handed.
If one of you guys could try an easy song with one finger and let me know
There are a lot of pentatonic tunes you can play in first position with just your index finger (first finger) and your fourth finger. "Wayfarin' Stranger" in A minor, for example, should work. Below letters refer to notes; Arabic numerals refer to fingers; Roman nimerals refer to strings.
A A E E D E C A
1(III) 1(III) 1(II) 1(II) 0(II) 1(II) 4(III) 1(III)
A C E D, A C D E
1(III) 4(III) 1(II) 0(II), 1(III) 4(III) 0(II) 1(II)
A A E E D E C A
1(III) 1(III) 1(II) 1(II) 0(II) 1(II) 4(III) 1(III)
A C E D, C A G A
1(III) 4(III) 1(II) 0(II), 4(III) 1(III) 0(III) 1(III)
E E G A, E G A E D
1(II) 1(II) 4(II) 0(I), 1(II) 4(II) 0(I) 1(II) 0(II)
E E G A, G A G E
1(II) 1(II) 4(II) 0(I), 4(II) 0(I) 4(II) 1(II)
A A E E D E C A
1(III) 1(III) 1(II) 1(II) 0(II) 1(II) 4(III) 1(III)
A C E D, C A G A
1(III) 4(III) 1(II) 0(II), 4(III) 1(III) 0(III) 1(III)
My right hand (as you mentioned it) has half index finger, half next finger, no third finger and normal pinky) sounds unusable, but its just a case of what you get used to (apart from wearing gloves its never been a problem).
I guess for me, the cello would be the same .. getting used to working with what I have.
Playing left-handed might simply be a matter of moving in closer, but you'd have to experiment.
I forgot to ask you about your thumbs, by the way. Traditional cellists bring their thumbs out from behind the neck and stop strings with them in three situations: In the lower and middle positions they use them to play octaves (across adjacent strings) and to play artificial harmonics; in the highest postions (called thumb positions) they use the thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers much as a violinist normally uses his index, middle, ring, and fourth finger. If your left-hand thumb is intact, the answer for you might be to bring your thumb out all the time (except when playing pentatonic tunes in first position and incorporating open strings and in similar situations).
Why ??? - or do you mean "how" can I hold the bow ?!
Easily !
Just because something is different, it doesn't make it impossible or harder.
As an update I had my first cello lesson, no problems whatsoever (very good bowing technique for a beginner and finger spacing could be designed for my hands, the neck on a bass is too wide and the violin is too small, but the cello is a perfect fit. Admittedly I've only experience at slow speeds of course time will tell how things work out.
For all those reading please remember the biggest barrier to most things in life is mental not physical.
Hi Neochrome,
I play the bass and the cello and tune the fretless bass like a cello. The finger spacing is closer together on the cello so it ought to be easier for you than the bass. Also there are different positions which your teacher will get into that can let you jump a smaller distance depending where you are on the finger board. Also it doesn't take as much pressure to push the strings down which ought to be less tiring.
Best of luck to you and enjoy the cello. I started it about three years ago after 45 years lay off and enjoy it very much. The bass is a good bottom to music and a lot of fun to play but the cello can sing and sound sweet. Lots of diversity there between the two.
Bob
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