Hello All,

I am interested in taking Cello lessons. I just surprised my wife with Viola lessons since she use to play most of her childhood up until the end of Highschool. She gave it up and always regretted it. She just started again, last week and I had her show me what she learned and remebered from the past. I have been interested in learning a stringed instrument for some time and always leaned toward the Cello; since I am a big guy (6`4") and am afraid my larger hands would make it difficult to hold individual strings that are closer together as on a violin. I have absolutely no musical experience as of yet. I would like to make horribly out of tune music along side my wife at the same time LOL. Would the larger size of a Cello be a better fit for someone my size? Since the Cello is played seated, will that make the learning curve a bit easier. I know that all string instruments are going to take a long investment in time over a lifetime to even become average so I understand that whichever I choose will take time. Also, Ebay has many student and intermediate instruments for sale it prices that seem way to low. Has anyone here bought a Cello on ebay and was it good enough to be used as a beginner instrument? Any lower cost brands worth looking into?

Any help will be greatly appreciated,

Marc Webster

Just thought I`d share my similar situation. I am 6`1" - 225lbs and try to play my wife`s violin. It feels so awkward and my fingers are jumbled up. We had a crummy cello lying around and it is so comfortable and relaxing to play. But it is 3/4 size. I am going to rent a student instrument for 6 months to a year at the local store, then when I have a better feel for what I want, I will shell out and buy a really good cello, with less remorse because then I will know if I am still serious. I have a head-start because I played trombone at a high level like 20 years ago, so at least I read music and Bass clef! You should hear my wife on piano and me on cello playing Pachelbel. It is hilariously mediocre, but we enjoy it tremendously, and it is better that fighting when we are bored ;-) Good luck!

Even big guys like Itzhak Perlman, and many other big guys like that are able to play violin, and viola. Granted, they have been playing basically all of their lives, but you could still learn, if you want. I say that not to discourage you from learning cello if that`s what you want to do, but to encourage you by letting you know that it`s possible even for you to learn the violin. My grandfather had fingers about twice the thickness of the normal finger, just from working on a farm all of his life. He couldn`t hit a single note on the piano (white keys). He still played violin, and at least tried to play piano, though the latter was frustrating for him. Just have fun with whichever instrument you end up going with!


Titus

Drums or guitar? That was way off topic. Drums no way, my head does not work such complex rythms, and getting my feet to hold differnt rythms then my hands ARGH! I like the acoustic guitar, but I want to learn an instrument a little less common.

So can anyone elaborate as to whether the ebay cellos are any good.

Best regards,

Marc Webster

Most ebay cellos are just unknown makers trying to get an extra dollar. Nothing of any real quality. I say most because I tried to sell my cello on ebay. Just be careful, and try to find several quotes about the same maker. Use a good search engine like google to research the maker. Get something of quality.


Titus

Marc Webster,

I knew a guy who was 6`4" and weighed 250Ib`s and he played the Viola, so you should have no troubles at all playing the Cello.

Oh and the biggest cello is a full size or 4/4 which is the one you should be getting.



...I know that all string instruments are going to take a long investment in time over a lifetime to even become average...
-Umm, I wouldn`t go that far. It only took me a few years(5-7) to become good at the cello. IT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHO YOUR TEACHER IS!!


Oh and on ebay, don`t get the NEW cellos that are less than a 1000 dollars because they will probably just fall apart. Also don`t get solid pine cellos, because they are very weak. The only good cellos you can really trust on ebay are the ones that are really old and in good condition, that tells they were made well. I got mine from Yahoo auctions, but they don`t seem to have any now. Anyways my cello is around 150 years old, I got it for around $300, but I spent a few hundred dollars sanding, revarnishing, and sealind the open seems with glue which I did myself to the whole cello. Now it sounds just as good as a $10,000-20,000 cello.

Hello Mark,

I teach cello in New York city and will be happy to speak to you about studing if you wish.

I don`t know if you found a teacher yet ,but I have been teaching for the past 20 years and am a Juilliard graduate.
I enjoy teaching all levels and ages!

If you wish to get in touch-

celloartist@yahoo.com

I would like to learn how to play the cello. I`m petite (about 5`2")... will it be difficult to learn since I have a small frame and small fingers?

I have played cello for 2 years, of course im in 7th grade. It is definetley enjoyable and nice to play while relaxing. At first when u rub the bow against the strings it sounds horrid. But eventually it sounds alot nicer . I think cello is better than bass because it isnt too hard to lug around and it has a wonderful pitch. I hope you enjoy your cello lessons, i enjoy mine ( most of the time ).

Min,

Perhaps you`d do better with a 7/8 size cello.

Liz

Hello, about ebay, I got my begginers cello on ebay, and this is what I think.

I believe ebay is the way to go for learner instruments( may I emphasize learner).

Mine served me well and costed about 150 dollars.

It will be of good use to you until you get to the point when you really want to get serious and want to do performances.

after about 1 or 2 years of playing an average amount of time, it might start cracking, but, by this time you should be good enough to have moved on to a better cello.

I would have to say the next price to go to would be a cello that costs around 1,200 dollars. then, if you get really good, get a really good cello lol.

hope this helps.

i`v been a brass player for a couple of years but am switching to cello --- so i really need some tips on cello buying.

i am in the process of purchasing a 4/4 carlo robelli cello (the price was $469 and came with a hard case and horsehair bow string)

what worries me is that i am only 5`2 and this instrument might be too big for me - however there were only 2 left at that price so i went for it anyway.

is there hope for a short girl like me wielding a full size? or should i think about returning it? any help is appreciated!

I have been interested in taking cello lessons since I have been in the seventh grade. It is so beautiful. I have allways enjoyed hearing it. SOmetimes it brings a tear to my eye.

Some people ask me why don`t you just play the violin because it is saller. I always say "But the cello is prettier."

Min:
Being petite and having small fingers won`t stop you from being a good cello player. One of the best players I know, YeJin, is a very petite girl.

Kathleen:
Yes, there`s plenty of hope in wielding that full size. It looks big, but it`s not at all bad as it first seems. A very good friend of mine, Stephen, plays the cello, a FULL size cello, yet is very short(no offense).