How to Hold and Position the Cello

Imagine sitting on a grand stage with magnificent lights shining all around, an adoring crowd waits in silence for the beautiful sound of the cello to start playing and drifts them off into a fantasy world of music. Well, I'm here to say that it could be you playing the cello in front of that adoring audience, and the fastest way to get there is by learning how to hold and position the cello the proper way. While the cello isn't the easiest instrument to learn how to play, the steps in getting started are quite simple. Setting up a good foundation on learning the cello is key to growing better at it. Having the proper posture and positioning when playing the cello will help eliminate any aches and pains your body could experience while playing and will help you get started on the right track.

The first step in playing the cello is getting the proper sitting position down. Find a chair that is not too high or too short. Make sure your feet sit comfortably on the ground and your knees are bent just slightly at the waist. Be sure that you're sitting upright with your back a few inches from the chair's backrest. Making sure you have the proper sitting position will enable you to play to the best of your ability and eliminate any back or muscle pain.

Once you have the proper sitting position, it is time to adjust the cello. First, you will pull out the cello’s endpin so that the body of the cello rests gently on your chest and is balanced between your knees. You want your knees to lock the cello in place, with your right knee sitting right in the middle of the cello’s right C bout and your left knee sitting left behind the cello’s right C bout.

Next, position your feet so that your left foot is slightly forward and the scroll and neck of the cello are over your left shoulder, with the right lowest tuning peg parallel with your left ear. Angle the cello slightly so you can bow without readjusting the cello’s endpin. Using a cello endpin rest will help to decrease endpin movement and keep the cello balanced. With the proper positioning, it will become very easy to start playing the cello better and better.

Making sure you have the right sitting position and cello placement is very important in playing the cello. The better your cello positioning is, the quicker your path to becoming a cello playing professional will be!