How to Play the Cello : Cello Bowing Techniques

[OjosAzul22]

What is the silver instrument to his far left?

[afriedman174]

@OjosAzul22 It's an Indian instrument called a sarod. Pretty cool, you should check it out.

[Thatswhopunk]

this best part about this are the comments complaining

[Debedeb]

Thanks so much for tkaing time to share. Wonderful person.

[breakersrich]

ALL THE NEGATIVE COMMENTS ON THIS PAGE ARE PRECISELY THE REASON WHY PPL CONSIDER CLASSICAL ENTHUSIASTS "SNOBS"!! IT'S A BASIC TUTORIAL FOR BEGINNERS - NOT JULLIARD!!!

[7smonkeys3]

@breakersrich hey thats no true i dont evan have a cello (and love matalica) but they are right i would know i can play almost all the instruments in a band 

[breakersrich]

@breakersrich STAY POSITIVE PPL - STAAAAAAAAY POSITIVE!!!

[jodi183]

@breakersrich I think it's people who can't even play that are leaving negative comments. If they are such great players, than why are they watching a beginner's tutorial. Silly people.

[toddfree97]

He may not be a cellist, but if you watch his bow hand after the "continuous sound" remark, he does "bow circles" as my teachers calls them where he changes his hands momentum before he changes the bows direction.. so he IS a string player.

[chainstoking]

@toddfree97

You seem to have lost the point, it is what he is doing with his ARM that counts, much less so than with his hand.

It also remains that he is trying to teach an instrument he cannot play himself.

[brideinblack]

he may not be a cellist but he's nice to watch :D

[Philboy50]

you can tell that he isnt a cellist



[MrGmoore007]

ur a shit tech

boooooooooooooooooooooo

[chainstoking]

This person redefines the term "incompetent".

[piggygirl7010]

The words on the caption thing aren't even keeping up with him. So wats the point of having the words if it's not going to follow wat he says AS he says it. I mean I no it's there for people hoo can't hear but for people hoo CAN hear, it's just ridiculous. Seriously! No offense people hoo can't hear. I didn't meen to hurt any one. BUT SERIOUSLY this is why I don't like these videos.

[Theehtlam66]

@piggygirl7010 hehe furthermore why would a person who cant hear start to play the cello :P

[07080006001]

@Theehtlam66

because there are foreign people that can understand english very well by reading, but don't have a good listening skill for the language, at least, not yet.

[Theehtlam66]

@07080006001 okay that make sense^^

[07080006001]

@Theehtlam66

^^

[MegaXxMeganXx]

This guy is not very good. I mean for starters, the technique he is saying is very wrong. He is focusing solely on tension in the hand, deciding to ignore the arm and the neck which is where the tension is actually from. BeckyLinda1 is 100% correct. I have a lot of knowledge in this area as I have been a 'Cello teacher myself and this guy doesn't seem to be very professional at all.

[christianslayerfan]

can anybody give me links to cello music sheets for heavy metal songs?thanks

[oracle270]

Ok, BeckyLinda1, I'll wait for your tutorial on Youtube. :-)

[SlabIronChest]

maybe becky isn't so arrogant she thinks she knows it all and everyone should listen to her, unlike the douche in this video

[Jangof3tt]

0:14 either he meant to say the weight of your arm, or he is retarded....

[Omega1988]

Properly relaxation? if that is properly relaxation, then what is stiff then?

[BeckyLinda1]

Silly man! He said the "weight of the bow". A 'cello bow weighs between 80 to 85 grams. That's NOT heavy enough to make any difference at all!

[yrahcazwolf]

I've heard this used by other string majors. This doesn't refer to the actual wieght of the bow; rather the natural tension put on the strings when you are relaxed.

[musicalmiller]

@BeckyLinda1 Silly man indeed! it's the weight of your arm. it's physically impossible to adjust your arm tension to have only 80g of bow pressure at all times!

[Grandmasterbirch]

He's not actually getting a very good contact there so the tone he produces isn't very strong. Could be okay if using it for a sostenuto passage though.

[Megadeth1994METTULLL]

Is it true that the Cello later adapted to a bass guitar? Or is that my friend being really stupid again?

[Grandmasterbirch]

No, i should think either the Double Bass (as the strings are the same) was the predecessor or it's simply a bass version of the guitar that already existed.

[BeckyLinda1]

"Grandmasterbirch"

Isn't the Double Bass tuned to G D A E? And aren't these tuned to 4th's not 5th's like the 'cello?

But people have probably told you that by now.

[Grandmasterbirch]

Yeah, that's right. I meant that the tuning of the Double Bass and Bass Guitar is the same, not the Cello. That's proabably the most likely explanation for the electric bass, considering that Jazz bands traditionally used Double Bass (and before that, Tuba) and these rather developed into the Electric Bass Guitar used in later bands after technological advances. However, these are just my speculations... I don't know quite how you would explain the acoustic bass guitar by this progression...

[BeckyLinda1]

Ok "Grandmasterbirch", I understand....

[Michellewooff]

how boring LOL

[noregrets92]

For everyone saying how they could play better than this guy, you do realise that this is a basic tutorial right? This vid wasnt made so the guy could show off his music, as if he were to play something incredibly proffesional and complex, people wouldnt have a clue how he did it. Remember, its a tutorial for beginners, so why are all the 'experts' even watching this?

[BeckyLinda1]

Sorry, you are very wrong here noregrets92.

The tension is not in his hand, it's in his whole arm and neck. I can see it plainly, and there's lots of it too. A "Basic Tutorial" as you call it should focus on these very issues as you quite rightly say, but he is totally inexperienced, unqualified and not addressing the problems of tensions.

Yes, Professionals do sometimes watch these videos for whatever reason.

[noregrets92]

I agree that he has some flaws, but i dont think its fair to say he is totally inexperienced. If you'll notice there are many videos in which he demonstrates how to play the cello. You must remember, as CreatingTrigger said, the people expert vilage use arent the best out there as your noy paying for this advice. Also, different people play using their own styles and this guy did jazz which can be very different to other, perhaps classical approaches. However i do see what you're getting at.

[BeckyLinda1]

He is actually talking about Tone Production (although he doesn't realise it) and quite rightly mentions the necessity to be be relaxed.

Unfortunately he is totally unaware of his own arm/neck tensions and concentrates on his hand only. The tension is in his arm/neck NOT the hand. If a hand is tense it is because the arm is. As he is so obviously self taught he has no understanding of the correct movements of the arm in relation to the hand.

Everything works together as a connected unit

[noregrets92]

You seem to have a good understanding of the cello and how to play it so i'll trust your judgement. After all, i only play piano and from what you say i realise how he does seem to be slightly hipocritical about stressing the importance of relaxing your hand as his movements come across as somewhat tense, and, after watching some his other work, i can tell hes not entirely certain about the advice he gives. I can admit that you've outdone me. Fair play!

[BeckyLinda1]

That's OK! I didn't mean to come over as a "know it all"!

[julian121]

As a cellist, he is giving some very good basic advice. And his right hand IS very relaxed. One problem with this being, it is impossible to learn how to play the cello, over the internet.

[BeckyLinda1]

"julian121"

OK, hold a pencil, squeeze it. Do you feel it in your arm or your hand? Now tighten your hand muscles but keep your arm relaxed. Impossible isn't it? Think about it. If there is any tension it will be in your arm. So why does he mention only the the hand ignoring the arm completely?

Again think about it....

Oh and by the way, He ISN'T a 'cellist....

[LauraBlackburn11]

i hate the sound of the cello. but good tips. x

[CreatingTrigger]

guys, its expertvillage, they get whoever they find expert or no expert. most of their videos arent made by professionals.

[scaleshchess]

he's cute

[PeaceAndLovePrincess]

wat the heck!!! i am younger than you and i can play much better!!!!!!!!!! you are no expert!

[gnamp]

one continuous sound? nah.

[iggsy12345]

what a boring video ......................

[Chrissypools]

your boring you twat

[HornyForEvil]

I hear no continuous sound, maybe my speakers are screwed?

[VampireAyame]

hey my bow always squeeks when i try to play in orchestra class do i need to put more rosin on it or wat? when i put it right about a centimeter on the finger board it doent so wats up with my cello?

[StarTopStudios]

make sure your bows not crooked

[superpaperosalina]

Make sure the bow isn't too low down on the cello and make sure it's fairly tight. Try putting a bit more rosin on it to see if it makes any difference. Cello rocks!:)

[UnitedKingdomLove]

Thankss!:P

[blazingvirtuosity]

stiff hand = bad sound

relaxed hand = no difference

[J4YM5]

blazingvirtuosity = stupid

[agent0192b]

what the hell are you on about? It makes a completely rich/mellow beautiful sound. of course you cant do it straight away. It takes something called practice. I do 2 hours a day and I still cant get it perfectly right!

[cannoir]

you are just not bright ! that sound scared my dog. it sounds like nails on a black chalboard. That's too amateurish.

Yawn

[agent0192b]

If you call being in a proffetional national orchestra amateur you still have much to learn.....

[Liferocksabc]

Well i would like to see you give it a go

[blazingvirtuosity]

What I meant was that there was no difference in sound when he demonstrated the so-called 'relaxed hand'.

[temple07152009]

i love the instructor. the lesson is very practical and precise. yeah, begginer is not easy to handle wrist adjustment to bowing... i love to watch. thank you.

[a20008137]

-probando

[svejelka]

your playing is monstrous but i really want to blow you!

[HornyForEvil]

ROFLMAO!

[MerlinTheDraconic]

You can buy inexpensive student bows from many music stores. They aren't exellent, but they're good for a beginner. There are some made of fiberglass, and they are hardier. I highly suggest always keeping your instrument and bow in the case when you're not playing them - accidents happen, and this will minimize it. If you want to put down your instrument, lay your cello on its side, and place your bow along the cello, on your stand, or in a highly visible position. My condolences on your loss.

[gmebank]

? 1. IS THERE A PARTICULAR ORDER OF YOUR INSTRUCTIONS THAT i SHOULD FOLLOW AND IF SO CAN YOU HOOK ME UP WITH THE INFO PLEASE AND THANKS AND LASTLY....i JUST GOT MY FIRST BOWED INST. ( CELLO A MONTH AGO. i AM 34 YRS OLD TIME IO OF THE ESSENCE PROBLEM THOUGH, WITHIN A WEEK i SAT RIGHT DOWN ON THE FUCKING BOW AND BROKE IT...CAN'T AFFORD A NEW ONE...WILL i ACQUIRE HARD TO BREAK BAD HABITS WITH A VIOLIN BOW TILL SUCH TIME i CAN AFFORD A CELLO BOW OR REALIZE i WILL ALWAYS SUCK AT IT AND GIVE IT UP

[paperelephants]

you cant afford a semi-decent $40 bow until you save up for a better one?

[thenotoriousadin]

maybe get a better job?