Right up there with the violins, the cello, or the so called “big brother” of the violin, emphasizes a more powerful sound, often-times with a more pronounced bass and low tonality, making it the ideal instrument for adding drama and strength to any musical arrangement.

This page will offer an overview about cellos, their unique characteristics, similarities with violins and the numerous possibilities it offers its musicians.

Featuring a larger body and additional elements for ergonomics, the cello is considerably more powerful than the violin, yielding sounds which are rich in low tonalities and induce dramatic streaks in the musical compositions where it is being involved. Having a larger body means that the acoustic capabilities are significantly increased, allowing the capturing of more air in its chamber, providing more resonance and a more powerful output.

With a classic neck and string arrangement, such as the violin, the cello does feature thicker strings, which may be looser than the ones present on a violin, and this is the aspect that is determinant in terms of lower tonality and increased bass and power. However, due to the increased size of the cello in comparison to the violin, the first features an aiding device, in the form of a peg, which has the role of offering support and balance for the musician playing the cello, by leaving it supported on the ground and holding it with the free arm further away from the body than the violin.

Having the strings usually an octave lower than the violins, means that the cello will offer far more bass and power in its output, enabling its player to really stand out in the orchestra or musical ensemble where he or she would be playing.

As with the violin, the cello also features electric variants, which basically rely on the same principle of converting the bow friction to electrical impulses, through a piezoelectric device.