Assignment 20 - Eli Flomenhoft

How To Play the Cello

I have been playing the cello for almost ten years. This probably qualifies as some expertise. In this blog post I intend to help someone with no musical experience play a C major scale.

1. Get out your instrument and tighten the bow clock wise. You tighten the bow with the nut at the end.
2. Pull out your end pin by loosening the screw and adjusting it to a suitable playing length.
3. Get out a tuner to make sure you are playing the right notes.
4. Next place your cello in between your legs with the end pin on the ground and the neck on the left side of your head.
5. Then place your bow in your right hand, you will finger notes with your left.
6. Then take the bow, place it on the string near the frog, make sure the bow is between the finger board and the bridge, and pull towards you. This is a C. Check the tuner to make sure you have played the right note.
7. Next take your index finger and place it on the C string, the biggest one. Your finger should be about 3/4 of an inch from the scroll. Then pull the bow towards you. This is a D.
8. Now keep your first finger down and place down your ring finger on the C string. Your finger should be 1.5-2 inches away from your index finger. Again pull towards you. This is an E.
9. Place the pinky finger down half an inch from the ring finger and again pull towards you. This is a F.
10. Now repeat step 6 but on the only string adjacent to the C string. This is the G string. If you followed step 6, you should have played a G.
11. Repeat step 7 but place the finger on the G string. This should be an A.
12. Repeat step 8 but on the G string. This should be a B
13. Repeat step 9 but on the G string. This should be a C. You have now played a one octave scale.