Why does my cello sound scratchy

Inspect the shoulder rest. Some shoulder rests have screws or parts that can rattle if loose. Try playing without the shoulder rest. If the noise stops, make sure to tighten or replace loose parts on the shoulder rest. See if there is excessive tailgut under the tailpiece. The tailgut or tailpiece adjuster is the cord that connects the tailpiece to the endpin button, and holds mostly all of the tension from the strings.

Some tailguts are tied, and others are threaded with small brass nuts holding them to the tailpiece. Excess tailgut after the nuts or the knots can rattle against the tailpiece. These can rarely be trimmed without removing the tailpiece, but a piece of tape might hold them still until the instrument can be brought to a luthier.

Check Fine Tuners string adjusters. If a fine tuner tuned down as far as it goes, the screw can rattle around. Also, most fine tuners are held onto the tailpiece by a small nut, which if loose, can also rattle. These are usually noticeable by a high-pitched rattle, especially on one string.

Does the buzz only happen on open strings? If a string buzzes when played open, especially when plucked, this is likely due to a low nut or high fingerboard near the nut, the small grooved piece of ebony or bone that holds up the strings at the top of the fingerboard. This will need the attention and opinion of a skilled luthier to address, be it viola open strings or open strings of any other stringed instrument. And rosins that are good for violin may not be as good for viola or cello.

Flicking of course when holding in the middle and with care. If you feel the wood bending stop. I didnt want to advice giving a show fight. You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

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Recommended Posts. HyenaCellist Posted June 27, Posted June 27, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options Posted June 28, A4tune Posted June 28, WorksAsIntended Posted June 28, Clean the strings and shwing the bow to get out a bit of that rosin. Maybe it helps. HyenaCellist Posted June 28, Thanks for your information.

But how would one go about "shwinging" a bow? Frank Nichols Posted June 29, Posted June 29, HyenaCellist Posted June 29, WorksAsIntended Posted June 29, I ment to write swing, which is still the wrong word, sry.

Bill Merkel Posted June 30, Posted June 30, Andrew Victor Posted June 30, WorksAsIntended Posted June 30, Alyssa Posted by Archived posts. Hey, happend to me too! If you have rosin on the string it can cause squeaks. Or if you have learned how to play without moving your elbow sometimes using to much bow can cause it also.

Chelsey Posted by Archived posts. Hey i have been playing the Cello fro 10 years and i am The cause of the squeak is either not enough rosin or you are pushing to hard. It's a catalyst between the bow and cello strings, creating the "just right" amount of friction to produce smooth, consistent, and resonant sound. Too much rosin means the bow won't move smoothly, and the sound is raspy; too little rosin and sounds are faint, hollow, and inconsistent.

Over time, you'll find rosin balance. For now, here are things worth knowing about rosin and your cello bow. That's right. Rosin really does grow on trees, or at least in them. It's a composite formula made from heating and purifying sap from pine trees, then mixing it with other ingredients to customize the look and texture. As with any string instrument accessory, there are variations in quality.

While you don't need to invest in professional grade rosin, it is important that you purchase higher-quality cello rosin to protect the integrity of your cello bow and the strings. Rosin is made in a variety of thicknesses and textures to accommodate your instrument; usually, the bigger the instrument, the darker and softer the rosin is to increase traction. However, other factors such as temperature and humidity play a part in rosin preferences.

So your best friend just quit and offered you his leftover supply of violin rosin. That's great, right? Actually - it's not so great because most violin and viola rosin is different from cello and bass rosin.