Table of Contents
Get Better Knowledge About Basic Cello Accessories
Keeping your Cello in shape and regular maintenance is very important just like practicing and performing with your instrument. You will need to make regular checks on your instrument so you can be sure about its perfect working condition.
In addition to regular maintenance, there are other cello accessories that should be considered in order for you to have a perfect setup for your instrument. Knowing the essential cello accessories will make the practice a lot easier, and improve your playing together with the player’s experience.
The Cello
In order to help you with your decision when buying a cello, we made an entire guide with reviews for the best models available at the moment.
Generally, you will need to buy a cello that is comfortable to play with and has a powerful tone. Especially as cello player advances in their studies, a high-quality cello will become mandatory. Even a fantastic cellist can’t make a bad cello sound really good.
The Cello Bow
A very good bow is going to make your cello sound richer, and smoother, and will definitely improve its projection. Heavier bows are producing more sound in comparison with lighter bows and the weight of a standard bow can vary between 65 to more than 85 grams.
Having that in mind, heavier bows require extra effort so you can use them, and they can be potentially difficult to play. In case your child is on the smaller side, you should think about buying a lighter bow.
It is not going to produce the same sound as the heavier bow but it will be good for your kid until it is ready for heavier bows. Usually, finding the best cello bow for you or your kid is a matter of individual choice.
A bow will need to fit your playing style and, in case you’re buying a cello bow for a beginner, it will be better to think about not spending money on the very best cello bow.
If you want to see the best Cello bows on the market you can check them out HERE!
Cello Mute
For those who are living in smaller apartments or just don’t want to interrupt other people in the house with their practice or practice of their kids, a Cello mute is probably the accessory that you need.
Mutes are made to reduce the volume of a cello by sliding over the bridge and stopping noisy overtones.
The most typical variation between the different brands of mutes on the market is the material they’re made from: some are made out of rubber, whereas others are made out of metal.
You should know that both of these choices will do the job correctly and will deliver similar performance, which means that the decision comes from personal choice, brands, designs, sizes, or economy-based choices.
Rosin For Cello
Cello rosin is why your bow and cello produce a sound. Just like a bike chain that is not going to move without grease, a cello bow is not going to produce sounds against the strings if there is no rosin. The stickiness that the rosin posses, allows the bow’s hair to “catch” and make good contact on the string, pulling it ever so little to cause vibrations.
If you search for rosin you should know there are two important types of rosin: dark and amber. Dark rosin offers a softer tone and is best suited to cool, dry climates because in hotter places it will get too sticky.
Dark rosin is usually used by cellists who want softer rosin in order to make the cello sing. Lighter, amber rosins are usually harder and denser making them a great fit for cello.
Note that some of the rosins out there even have special metals inside. Gold rosin produces a warm, clear tone and is suitable for all instruments. Silver rosin creates a concentrated, bright tone and is particularly good for performance in higher positions. It’s mostly suited for the cello or violin.
Another important choice that you must make when selecting rosin is caked or boxed. Most beginners use boxed rosin, to begin with as it’s usually included with many beginner cello bundles. It has a lower quality but can be used on any instrument and during any season. As you can guess, the caked rosin is mostly used by more advanced players who are looking for a better sound.
Additional Strings Set
To have an additional set of strings handy is always a good idea for every Cello player, experienced musician, and those who are still students and just starting their journey with this instrument.
In order to avoid the effort of having to rush to your car and speed to the local music shop so you can arrive there before they close their shops every time you or your kid breaks a string, always have a spare set of cello strings out there.
It is pretty much sure that your strings will break sometimes but it can be a delicate time while you are performing or when you are practicing with your group and having a spare set will prevent embarrassment.
Just like the guitar and violin strings, there are two kinds of cello strings: nylon and steel. Experienced players already know which strings to use and when and beginners who are still not sure will need to consult with their teachers or more experienced players so they can get the best strings for them and their instrument.
If you want to see the best Cello strings available on the market, check our review of the best Cello strings HERE as it can ease your shopping!
Endpin stop
If your house has hardwood flooring or in case your kid is playing their cello in different places, investing in a high-quality endpin stop or strap, sometimes known as Rockstops, will be a great idea.
Basically, a stop offers the cello a solid grounding place so it doesn’t slip or roll while playing. Endpin straps are a disc or block with material on the bottom side that grips to the ground, with a hole on the bottom that the endpin rests on.
In case your kid plays on the carpet or if you don’t want to use an endpin stop, an endpin strap tethers to a chair rather than resting on the ground. In both cases, the length is modifiable.
The Cello Case/Bag
Cellos, similar to other stringed instruments, are notoriously delicate instruments and because of that reason, it is important to have a strong and solid case with nice features.
Cello cases usually are available in two types, the soft case, which offers some safety and normally has plenty of room for accessories, and the hard case which covers the cello snugly offering sturdy protection and good safety.
Most cases will offer a minimum of one compartment for accessories, 1-2 cello bow holders, maybe a humidifier, some additional pockets for music, and so on.
Cello outfits made for beginners usually include a soft cello case, however, if you need a better or sturdier case, there are some great options on the market out there.
Last Words
Some of these accessories presented here are mandatory and some of the are not. It’s up to you to decide which accessories you are going to use for and on your instrument.
All you need to know is that having these accessories will make your life easier when it comes to playing the Cello instrument.
