Cello guides

Cello beginners start by setting the cello to the right height, playing long strokes on the open strings and finding their first notes in first position.

Yes, you can learn the cello as an adult, even if you have never played an instrument before.

You can start the cello on open strings right away, while a steady sound and accurate finger placement without frets take patient practice.

Yes, you can teach yourself the cello if you practice regularly and get feedback on what you play.

As rough guidelines for adults who practice most days: in ten minutes you play one or two notes along with a real song and a band, short melodies come within weeks to a few months, and vibrato and higher positions in the first or second year.

You can learn to read music in five steps: understand the staff and clef, find the natural notes, count note values, read sharps and flats, and play each note on your instrument right away.

In bass clef, the five lines from the bottom up are G, B, D, F and A, and the four spaces are A, C, E and G.