Thank you. Ive played violin for 30 years but have been teaching myself cello. I was just looking for how people tape for cello in different positions. Just knowing I can focus on 1st then 4th makes a lot of sense!
I played cello a longtime ago as a kid. Now, as an adult I came back to it and I'd like to thank you for your great effort. Besides you are amazingly beautiful lady and I love to see more videos of yourself teaching here!
What a lovely explanation. My cello teacher however is against using tapes. I have never put any tapes on. He told me to learn by listening from the beginning. He drew with a pencil where the 1st finger should go in first position and when my finger rubbed it off that was it. Just been playing for 7 months and I am able to find all fingers in 1st (and also the flat notes on all he strings, so first finger extended backwards). Hopefully after the summer we will start with fourth position.
Sarah Joy thank you so much for the reply. Maybe my teacher told me to do it without the tape because I have been playing the flute since I was 10 and I also play harp for several years so music is not new to me. It is no way at all like cello but at least I am used to listening whilst playing 😊
When you play second position, the notes are the same in the sheet music. The positions are basically helpful finger patterns for those notes. So you could write in above the notes on the sheet music what finger patterns make it easier to perform. Hope this helps!
I always like your video and learned quite a lot from them. I have a hard time to do vibrato at high positions. Can you please do a video of vibrato at high positions. Thank you in advance.
So, it’s been a while since I made this video but I’m preeetty sure I addressed vibrato in the upper range: th-cam.com/video/HtEN5LWC5B0/w-d-xo.htmlsi=FMo1-FX6TsBJBLjp
Hi Sarah! I'm glad I found your channel! I played cello in high school and college and now I'm trying to learn again after not having played for about 20 years. I've been through 2 beginner books since Christmas and have re-learned first position pretty solidly. Now the book I have is going into positions and finger patterns and I'm a little confused. I know I used to know how to play them, but I think in high school I mostly memorized where to put my fingers for each piece of music I played. In this book I'm in now, it shows things like: -1, 3, 1, -2, I don't really understand or remember what that means. How can I best re-learn all of these positions? Thanks! -Melissa
once your Cello is tuned, and you need to put the tape, it is a good idea to use the tuner when putting the tapes, so the placement will be perfect and in tune. Second, it is a good idea to use it for 2 years, making always sure your hand is in the right place. And practice lots of scales. ;)
a friend of mine wrote a book for Cello Beginners. "Picture yourself playing Cello", by Jim Aikin. You can find in Amazon (comes with a CD). You can also contact him in Internet. He has a music Blog. bye bye
I just did this for my cello, but for me I have a little more cello theory than usual, so I just found. The octave harmonic and put my first tape there
+Roisin Gleeson Good question. After fourth, you start getting into thumb position. Thumb position can be used for the notes below 4th position, but it isn't common.
Playing by ear is a skill that just takes time and practice to develop. It's always handy to have a keyboard around. Once you start figuring it out on the keyboard, write it down in the best way that makes sense to you. Eventually, you won't have to use an instrument, and you'll be able to directly transcribe just by listening.
I just had to take off electrical tape of my cello and it was not good. Way too sticky! Is that normal or is that not good? How do you get the sticky off?
I'm a violinst and I am self-teaching myself the cello, and I'm a bit confused. On a violin, the fourth finger is equal to an open string. Is the exteded four the equivalent of an open string? Is it a one in 5th position? Should I play this rather than an open? So many questions, haha!
So on the D string - 1 is E, 2 is F natural, 3 is F#, 4 is G, and x4 is G#. If you shift up to fourth position on the D string and put down finger 1, that is equal to your open A.
Sarah Joy Can can you show it in a video how far I need to separate the first set of tapes to the second set of tapes thanks cuz I couldn't tell in the video the distance Thanks for replying to my question
+Sasha Numbers I think that's different for each person. If you take them off and notice consistently out of tune notes, then I'd put them back on until your ear is more well-developed.
After you are able to memorize where you are supposed to put your fingers, try looking away and put your had where you think it is, if your hand hits the right spot multiple times you are ready.
I don't understand the point of playing G in 4th position on the C string... its the same note as open G, isn't it? And E in 4th position on the G string is the same as E in 1st position on the D string? Is it just ease of access, so you're not shifting all over the place?
Kayla Nichols when you play open strings there's a certain ring to it that sounds nice in some songs but not in others. you also can't play vibrato on open strings :)
If you really have an ear for music , you will not need tapes in your cello. Besides, cellos do not have frets like a guitar, and doing this could create an unnatural dependency on the "tapes" instead of your ears. When you start shifting from one position to another, the tapes will eventually come off anyway. Helpful aids to cello practice include practicing using an electric tuner and a metronome .
I have heard this argument before and I can understand the validity behind this point of view. However, I do believe that different students learn in different ways. If a child struggles with intonation, tactile assistance is perfectly fine. The tapes help to bring them to the point where their ear is more developed. I used tapes when I was 5, and it certainly helped. We didn't keep them on too long, but it gave me a foundation to start from. Once the ear is more developed, then "fine-tuning" your intonation can take place with a drone and a metronome.
Sarah Joy We do learn different. I for one am a cellist. I first learned my tape then I started taking off the tapes and then learned by ear listening to different musics, either way the tapes really help out. Thanks for your lessons and tutorials! And about the fingernails, I have the longest in the class, lol.
Can't dependency on looking at the tapes be mitigated by focusing on the sheet music and tuner in front of you? Thus feeling the tape instead of looking at it? This way I'm guessing by not looking at the left hand, one can forcus on practicing muscle memory.
Thank you. Ive played violin for 30 years but have been teaching myself cello. I was just looking for how people tape for cello in different positions. Just knowing I can focus on 1st then 4th makes a lot of sense!
I played cello a longtime ago as a kid. Now, as an adult I came back to it and I'd like to thank you for your great effort. Besides you are amazingly beautiful lady and I love to see more videos of yourself teaching here!
That’s awesome that you came back to it! And thank you :)
You are an incredible teacher.
thankyou SOO much for the beginning!!!!
i was so stuck on what fingers did which notes this helped so much
Thank you. It is an excellent demonstration.
What a lovely explanation. My cello teacher however is against using tapes. I have never put any tapes on. He told me to learn by listening from the beginning. He drew with a pencil where the 1st finger should go in first position and when my finger rubbed it off that was it. Just been playing for 7 months and I am able to find all fingers in 1st (and also the flat notes on all he strings, so first finger extended backwards). Hopefully after the summer we will start with fourth position.
I have heard different opinions on the the benefits of using tapes, and I think it might depend on the student. It sounds like you're doing great!
Sarah Joy thank you so much for the reply. Maybe my teacher told me to do it without the tape because I have been playing the flute since I was 10 and I also play harp for several years so music is not new to me. It is no way at all like cello but at least I am used to listening whilst playing 😊
love your videos. learning w you after 18 years I m come back to learn... Ron from brazil. thank you
Hey, I'm a beginning cellist and I was wondering how to read second positions on sheet music
When you play second position, the notes are the same in the sheet music. The positions are basically helpful finger patterns for those notes. So you could write in above the notes on the sheet music what finger patterns make it easier to perform. Hope this helps!
wow.... es la primera vez que te conozco y veo tus vídeos... realmente eres estupenda, saludos desde Perú 🌎
I always like your video and learned quite a lot from them. I have a hard time to do vibrato at high positions. Can you please do a video of vibrato at high positions. Thank you in advance.
So, it’s been a while since I made this video but I’m preeetty sure I addressed vibrato in the upper range: th-cam.com/video/HtEN5LWC5B0/w-d-xo.htmlsi=FMo1-FX6TsBJBLjp
Som maravilhoso, agradável.
Parabéns
thank you
Hi Sarah! I'm glad I found your channel! I played cello in high school and college and now I'm trying to learn again after not having played for about 20 years. I've been through 2 beginner books since Christmas and have re-learned first position pretty solidly. Now the book I have is going into positions and finger patterns and I'm a little confused. I know I used to know how to play them, but I think in high school I mostly memorized where to put my fingers for each piece of music I played. In this book I'm in now, it shows things like: -1, 3, 1, -2, I don't really understand or remember what that means. How can I best re-learn all of these positions? Thanks! -Melissa
Thank you!!!
You've helped me a lot, thank you :(
I’m starting out on cello and want to know the best tuner app or best tuner to use. I have poor intonation and can’t use a normal tuner😒
Thanks for this! I'm a beginner. I used white electrical tape that I cut into 4ths length ways. It'll probably be a nightmare to remove later.😅
Hello Sarah do you think that it's the right way to put tapes ? Adult beginner !! Thanks for your answer
once your Cello is tuned, and you need to put the tape, it is a good idea to use the tuner when putting the tapes, so the placement will be perfect and in tune. Second, it is a good idea to use it for 2 years, making always sure your hand is in the right place. And practice lots of scales. ;)
a friend of mine wrote a book for Cello Beginners. "Picture yourself playing Cello", by Jim Aikin. You can find in Amazon (comes with a CD). You can also contact him in Internet. He has a music Blog. bye bye
I just did this for my cello, but for me I have a little more cello theory than usual, so I just found. The octave harmonic and put my first tape there
Is there another set of position after 4th that is a full step away?
+Roisin Gleeson Good question. After fourth, you start getting into thumb position. Thumb position can be used for the notes below 4th position, but it isn't common.
Yeah there is 5th and 6th position too
Do you have any tips for playing a song you like without the music sheet? (In case you cant find the music sheet)
Playing by ear is a skill that just takes time and practice to develop. It's always handy to have a keyboard around. Once you start figuring it out on the keyboard, write it down in the best way that makes sense to you. Eventually, you won't have to use an instrument, and you'll be able to directly transcribe just by listening.
+Sarah Joy Thank you! ♥
Is there extended-4th position ? What comes after 4th position ?
Hi! What kind of tape do u use? Can you use just regular tape?
Use electrical tape, trust me, it works well ;)
I just had to take off electrical tape of my cello and it was not good. Way too sticky! Is that normal or is that not good? How do you get the sticky off?
Can you teach me the Cello please, I am a beginner and wand to start learning. I live in San Francisco, would please help me?
I'm a violinst and I am self-teaching myself the cello, and I'm a bit confused. On a violin, the fourth finger is equal to an open string. Is the exteded four the equivalent of an open string? Is it a one in 5th position? Should I play this rather than an open? So many questions, haha!
So on the D string - 1 is E, 2 is F natural, 3 is F#, 4 is G, and x4 is G#. If you shift up to fourth position on the D string and put down finger 1, that is equal to your open A.
Sarah Joy That makes so much more sense. Thank you!
Yay! Glad that explanation helped
Do u know where to get those tape things....
Probably a place like Hobby Lobby? (I'd imagine)
What does half step really mean thank you
It's the smallest interval, at least in Western music. Instead of going from A to B (for example), you would go from A to Bb.
Sarah Joy Can can you show it in a video how far I need to separate the first set of tapes to the second set of tapes thanks cuz I couldn't tell in the video the distance Thanks for replying to my question
My pegs always gets a bit tangled in my hair too lol.
I mean is it not hardest once you take if off ??
What type of tape do you use??
Electrical tape, it is really easy to use. When I used tape I used it and the tape worked really well.
White auto pin stripe tape.
When would you recommend taking tapes off?
+Sasha Numbers I think that's different for each person. If you take them off and notice consistently out of tune notes, then I'd put them back on until your ear is more well-developed.
After you are able to memorize where you are supposed to put your fingers, try looking away and put your had where you think it is, if your hand hits the right spot multiple times you are ready.
Before they go on!
I don't understand the point of playing G in 4th position on the C string... its the same note as open G, isn't it? And E in 4th position on the G string is the same as E in 1st position on the D string? Is it just ease of access, so you're not shifting all over the place?
Kayla Nichols when you play open strings there's a certain ring to it that sounds nice in some songs but not in others. you also can't play vibrato on open strings :)
Wow that makes so much sense! I kinda can't believe I didn't think if it. Thank you!
🌹
When should I start learning fourth position?
+Relientdolls Once you feel comfortable in first, go for fourth! And honestly, some teachers have students learn both simultaneously.
Okay, thank you!
It's all about muscle memory.
If you really have an ear for music , you will not need tapes in your cello. Besides, cellos do not have frets like a guitar, and doing this could create an unnatural dependency on the "tapes" instead of your ears. When you start shifting from one position to another, the tapes will eventually come off anyway. Helpful aids to cello practice include practicing using an electric tuner and a metronome .
I have heard this argument before and I can understand the validity behind this point of view. However, I do believe that different students learn in different ways. If a child struggles with intonation, tactile assistance is perfectly fine. The tapes help to bring them to the point where their ear is more developed. I used tapes when I was 5, and it certainly helped. We didn't keep them on too long, but it gave me a foundation to start from. Once the ear is more developed, then "fine-tuning" your intonation can take place with a drone and a metronome.
Sarah Joy We do learn different. I for one am a cellist. I first learned my tape then I started taking off the tapes and then learned by ear listening to different musics, either way the tapes really help out. Thanks for your lessons and tutorials! And about the fingernails, I have the longest in the class, lol.
Can't dependency on looking at the tapes be mitigated by focusing on the sheet music and tuner in front of you? Thus feeling the tape instead of looking at it? This way I'm guessing by not looking at the left hand, one can forcus on practicing muscle memory.
Oof im second yr.
Total amateur.
wow.... es la primera vez que te conozco y veo tus vídeos... realmente eres estupenda, saludos desde Perú 🌎