What we know as the cello is actually officially called a violoncello. It is a member of the violin branch of stringed instruments, and it lies between the bass and the violin in terms of register. Being much larger than a violin, the cello is played similar to a bass, i.e. standing upright as opposed to resting on the shoulder.The cello, despite its only having four strings, has an exceptional range, and music that is written for the cello is apt to be composed in the bass, treble, and tenor clefs. Like many of the best stringed instruments, cellos are composed of both spruce (on the top), and maple on the back, neck, and sides. The better grade cellos will use ebony for the fingerboard, the tuning pegs, and the nut.
Cellos, like violins and basses, are played with a bow that is slid across the strings. In general, a cello string is of the wound metal variety. The wood that the bow is composed of plays a part in the sound quality as well. The very best bows are made from a wood called Pernambuco, which has a dark rich color. You can, however, find bows made of synthetic materials as well including both carbon fiber and fiberglass.
The cello is a key component to orchestral playing, and there are quite a few solo pieces designed specifically for the instrument. A full-sized standard orchestra might have as many as 12 cellists. As with any good quality stringed instrument, used cellos that are well-made are highly sought after and sometimes quite expensive collector's item. If you are considering learning how to play the cello, you might want to look into purchasing a good beginner cello. These lower cost options are great starter instruments that can help you learn the basics before you make a large investment.
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