The Cello

The cello is a big string instrument. It looks like a giant violin. The cello sits on the floor, and the player holds it between their knees. It has a deep, warm sound that many people love.

Playing the Cello

The cello is too big to hold like a violin. Instead, the player sits in a chair with the cello between their legs. A metal spike at the bottom keeps the cello steady on the floor. One hand moves a bow across the four strings. The other hand presses the strings to change notes.

A chart showing the four strings of a cello and their sounds.
A chart showing the four strings of a cello and their sounds. (The original uploader was CompUTOSer at Japanese Wikipedia. / Wikimedia Commons)

The Cello's Sound

The cello has a rich and deep sound. People say it sounds like a human voice singing. Cellos are often used in classical music and orchestras. They also play in pop and rock songs sometimes. Yo-Yo Ma is one of the most famous cello players.

Fun Facts

  • The word 'cello' is short for 'violoncello', which means 'small big violin' in Italian.
  • Cellos can play both very low and fairly high notes.
  • Some rock bands like Apocalyptica use cellos instead of electric guitars.

Did You Know?

The cello is one of the few instruments that can play in almost the same range as a human voice.