Cello

Cello Musical Instrument

The cello is a stringed instrument and a member of the violin family. The cello is larger than a violin and smaller than the bass. It has four strings that are used to play the A, D, G and C notes by drawing the bow horizontally across the strings. Believed to have originated in Italy, the cello was probably a much larger instrument than it is today. Around the 1690s, luthiers began creating much smaller cellos that more closely resemble modern cellos. By the mid 1700s, larger cellos were almost non existent. Today, the cello is a complex instrument consisting of a main frame, upper neck and pegbox, a bridge, f-holes, and other internal features.

The Parts of a Cello

The cello is a complicated instrument constructed primarily of wood with some elements consisting of steel, rubber or metal. The body of the cello is wide at the top and bottom with a narrow middle. It is hand crafted from wood that is steamed and bent around forms to create a desired shape. The top of the cello is usually made from spruce, while the sides and neck bottom are usually made of maple. Laminates are also sometimes used in the construction of a cello, but this is usually in less expensive models that are lacking in performance. The neck of a cello contains the pegbox that contains one tuning peg for each of the four strings. Tuning pegs are used to tighten or loosen the strings to either raise or lower the pitch. The bridge is a removable part of the cello that is used to elevate the strings above the fingerboard. The f-holes are located on either side of the bridge and used to produce sound as well as allow easy access to the internal features. The internal features of the cello include a bass bar and a sound peg. The bass bar is a support feature of the cello while the sound peg helps to absorb and conduct sound.

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