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Nuclear_blonde
New member
Username: Nuclear_blonde
Post Number: 2
Registered: 10-2009
Posted From: 203.171.192.100
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, November 01, 2009 - 12:17 am: | |
Hello all, I'm new here. I'm an adult learner (52) learning cello for about 4 months and I love it! My question is that my C and G strings sound like they were made on a different planet than the other two, and I struggle to get a note without scratchy sounds and harmonics spoiling it! They are Helicore strings. I'm sure there is a trick to it... |
TK
Senior Member
Username: Lifeisgood
Post Number: 586
Registered: 07-2006
Posted From: 70.39.0.49
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, November 01, 2009 - 09:59 am: | |
Hi nuke. The scratchy sounds are more than likely coming from your right arm and not necessarily the fault of the strings.
Practice in front of a mirror and when you hear the scratchy sound...stop immediately and look at your bow position on the instrument. You are probably playing over the fingerboard or too close to the bridge.
Practice bowing open strings every day so you train your arm where to play. Good tone is something all string players struggle with in the beginning phase...and even three years down the road too. 
|
joy
New member
Username: Miamia
Post Number: 10
Registered: 08-2009
Posted From: 130.36.62.142
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 02, 2009 - 12:23 pm: | |
Have you tried having someone more experienced play your instrument and listened to that sound? If you still hear something off, you could get the strings changed. However, if it then sounds fine, maybe it's your bowing.
I went through something similar disliking the E string of my violin. I had only had the instrument a couple weeks but it really bothered me. Was in a string shop where I commented about my string being off and eventually had it replaced to a different brand. Now I practice without thinking I'm playing the wrong note all the time  }. |
Nuclear_blonde
New member
Username: Nuclear_blonde
Post Number: 3
Registered: 10-2009
Posted From: 121.91.199.8
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, November 03, 2009 - 12:32 am: | |
Thanks for the replies. I am going to do some practices in front of the mirror and lots of open string bowing. My teacher doesn't seem too concerned but I want to sound nice, not awful! And that's a good idea, to get my teacher to play my cello so I can have a listen, thanks! |
Dan O
New member
Username: Dro
Post Number: 7
Registered: 10-2009
Posted From: 70.130.191.26
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, November 03, 2009 - 06:37 am: | |
The quest for a great sound is lifelong, as no matter how far you go, you always want to refine things just a little bit further.
Keep in mind that the strings are all different thicknesses, which means that bowing speed and pressure needs to change slightly. The sweet spot for the A string is a lot different than the one on the C string.
As was suggested, just keep starting out your day by playing some open strings. The more you do it, the more you'll start to feel the difference between each string (and where you are bowing relative to the fingerboard and bridge).
Eventually your body will automatically make the adjustments, and before you know it you'll find it difficult *not* to make a good sound on the instrument.
The suggestion of having your teacher play your cello is a great one. Not only will you solve whether or not it's you or your strings, but you'll also get to hear what your cello sounds like from the other side (and also a few feet away). There is a difference between what you hear under your ear and what a listener hears. |
Nuclear_blonde
New member
Username: Nuclear_blonde
Post Number: 4
Registered: 10-2009
Posted From: 203.171.195.74
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, November 28, 2009 - 04:36 am: | |
Hello again! It is so nice to see replies to my question, thank you very much for taking the time and thought to respond. What has happened since is that my tutor said it was time to get my cello "set up" since it had been played in (if you can call what I do on it playing it in), and it turns out that the tailpiece had a crack in it which was contributing to the nervewracking sound I kept hearing. So the excellent lady here in Sydney Australia put on a new one, also she said the fingerboard was shaped wrong so she re-shaped it, and the post or posts (are there two in there?) were too far away fron the bridge. So she fixed that all up, and asked (very politely! if I liked the sound of the cello, and I said not really but who was I to judge, and she suggested trying out different strings becasue in her opinion the srtings I had just didn't suit the particular cello. So I have ordered some new strings (Pirastro Obligato I think they are called). In the meantime, its like I have a brand new beautiful cello already! I am sooo happy! I can make a pretty sound on it now sometimes. I had to have a lesson without my cello, so my teacher let me play his, and I fell in love with the instrument all over again, his was like butter instead of gravel like mine was.
So here is one more question. I had a hand accident to my left hand some years ago and I have four stumps, not proper fingers. When I hold the bow, my thumb is not bent, I suppose because my fingers are a lot shorter than normal. Should I try to get in the habit of a bent bow thumb? or won't it matter? Thanks again... |
Shirley Gibson
Senior Member
Username: Shirley
Post Number: 126
Registered: 02-2004
Posted From: 72.42.94.109
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, November 28, 2009 - 11:55 am: | |
Nuclear - how I have enjoyed reading the saga of your cello! (Some of my best friends are cellists  )
And I am so very happy that you are liking the sound from your instrument again.
As for your fingers, alI can say is that the long-time first chair cellist of the Colorado Symphony had a stump for an index finger on his right hand.
I'm a bit confused, though - you said your injury was to your left hand? Is this the hand you bow with? Whichever, I applaud your gumption. Someone here will give you a proper answer.
I really have enjoyed reading this thread - continued good luck!!
Shirley |
Nuclear_blonde
New member
Username: Nuclear_blonde
Post Number: 6
Registered: 10-2009
Posted From: 203.171.195.173
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, November 28, 2009 - 02:39 pm: | |
Whoopsie - I meant my right hand.... |
