Hi there...I have a violin sitting in my closet that I've played off and on. I'm thinking of starting again. Someday I would really love to play the cello. (whenever I can afford one!) My question: would studying the violin now help me to play the cello later? Does playing the violin make the cello easier? Just curious...

Obviously the technique is different, but I think being able to play one kind of bowed string instrument certainly gives skills that can be transferred to others in the same family.

That's interesting primavera. I have to say I haven't experienced those difficulties in transferring cello skills to viola. But I guess it's early days for me with the viola.

I wonder what someone like Amanda might have to say on the subject? She's proficient on pretty much the whole bowed strings family.

AmandaL, who's a pro violinist, plays violin, viola and cello, and has started learning the double bass, doesn't seem to have much trouble swapping.

I should think the differences come at a later stage of playing.where the different bowing pressures due to the size of the cello become apparent.
Intially,iIf you learn the cello fingering, where the spaces are obviously much greater than on a violin, plus the different bow hold, little finger goes round a cello bow, and not on top as per the violin, also the cello bow is usually either flat or away from the cellist . Yes I am sure you can play the cello. As people say. it is always best to go for lessons. I have tried ,the other way round ie cello to violin.I would need to ask a violin teacher about the balance of the instrument under the chin though!

Never gave me any bother at all. I automatically "switch" into the mode of whatever instrument I'm playing, without even having to think about it.

I've have come across cellists who've subsequently taken up the viola and had lots of problems, so maybe there's an advantage to tackling it the other way round.

Big hands are not necessary for the cello and it is also something of an urban myth that you require large paws to play the double bass. On the occasions I've taught the violin to someone with 'larger' hands, perhaps those with very long fingers who look cramped on a violin, they usually find the viola a more comfortable prospect.

Bear in mind that Maxim Vengerov has large hands, but it has never been an issue for him with the violin and on the opposite side of the scale there are some very tiny Korean cellists out there. Size is not an issue - it's all about finding a violin or cello etc. that fits your physique and you feel comfortable playing.

Hello AmandaL,

If I remember right, you've got small hands and play a violin that is slightly smaller than full size.

If you don't mind me asking, do you play a 3/4 or 7/8 cello?

I am asking this because I am thinking of getting a second-hand 3/4 cello. I am short and have very small hands. The span between my LH index and little fingers is only 15cm; I can reach an extra centimetre if I stretch really hard, but that involves a lot of tension, which is no good.

My fingers can barely reach the first position on a 3/4 cello. Some people have said that I should go for a full-size instrument as my LH would get used to the stretch after a while. They didn't think a 3/4 cello would be appropriate for musical reasons. As an alternative, they recommended me to look into 7/8 cello; however, it seems to me that 7/8 cellos are not as widely available.

I don't play the cello at all but want to start after getting hold of an instrument.

Have I read your post right I wonder? I've always thought I had long fingers & started playing a full size cello at roughly age 12, yet I can barely reach 15cms from LH index to little finger (just checked now ). It's never been a problem for me

Yip, I have big hands, and my guitar teacher thinks I have a good stretch, but mine is also only about 15cm on the cello. Have no trouble reaching and stretching on the cello.

Well, my hands only stretch about 8 or 9cm from the index to the 4th finger on a violin but I play on a full sized instrument. Do you think that's a little too big? They don't sell strings for 7/8 violins over here, hence I got myself a full-sized instrument.

My violin teacher said that once you play the violin it's not advisable to play the cello because of the huge stretch, and then your position will become stretched on the violin.. but I guess it might just be a load of gobbledygook.

Hello Andy,

You read my post right. I didn't measure my hand span correctly, though.

The span between my index finger and little finger is 15cm only when the fingers are kind of flat. When they are curved as if being placed on the fingerboard, the span is only 11-12cm. That's why I can't seem to reach notes in the first position on a full-size cello. The 3/4 cello feels more comfortable.