Want to learn how to take good care of your cello? Follow the tips below.
How to take Care of Your Cello and Bow
Tighten your cello bow before playing by gently turning the tension screw. Avoid making the bow hairs too taut---the separation between the bow stick and hair should be about the width of a pencil.
Whenever you handle your cello bow, try not to touch the bow hairs with your fingers or hand. The natural oils on your skin will impact the ability of the bow to grip the string.
Put a small amount of rosin on your bow before playing. Hold the rosin in your left hand, place the bow hairs flat on the rosin and slowly move the bow back and forth on the rosin. Rosin provides the bow hair with friction in order to produce a sound when the bow is pulled across the cello strings.
If you do not have enough rosin on your bow, your bow will slide across the strings and produce very little or no sound. Too much rosin can produce a raspy, scratching sound, and can result in rosin caking the strings. Visit our rosin & sound page for directions on how to apply rosin
After playing the cello, gently clean it with a soft, clean, lint-free cloth to remove rosin build-up on the strings and any dust, oil or sweat on your instrument.
Loosen the hair on your bow before putting it back in the case.
Put the cello endpin spike back in the instrument, and return your cello to its case.
When you are not using your cello and bow, always place them in your case.
Make sure you securely close your instrument case using all zippers and latches before picking up your instrument case.
Polish is rarely needed, and when necessary, only a commercial cello polish should be used. Cleaning the cello with furniture polish or water could damage the varnish and acoustics of the cello (water could also cause the cello seams to open).
Do not store your cello in extreme hot or cold locations, and never leave your instrument in direct sunlight or in the trunk of your car on a warm day (the heat could melt the varnish).
If you live in a dry climate, you may want to consider using a humidifier made for cellos (excessive dryness can cause cracking or the seams of your cello to open).
If your cello ever has cracks or the seams begin to open, take it to a music store, cello maker or luthier to be professionally repaired. Never use commercial glue to repair cracks on your cello. Instrument makers use a special glue for cello seams and repairs.
If your cello bridge ever needs to be adjusted, it is important to note that the cello bridge is held in place by pressure and proper placement, not glue (tension from the cello strings holds it in place). Visit our cello bridge adjustment section for more information.
If you open your case and see that bow hairs are falling off, visit our Bow Bugs section.
Sticking or Loose Pegs
Humidity or temperature changes can sometimes cause wood pegs to stick or to have difficulty turning. If you experience this, you may want to try an inexpensive product called peg compound (also called “peg dope”). Peg compound will not only lubricate the peg, but it will also provide enough friction so the peg will not slip. When using peg compound or any other product to help with sticking or loose pegs, use it sparingly because a residue can build up over time (some cellists avoid these products)
To apply peg compound, remove the string from the peg, and slide the peg out of the pegbox. Apply a small amount of peg compound to the part of the peg that contacts the pegbox and reinsert the peg. Turn the peg a few times to make sure it turns smoothly. Wipe off any excess peg compound before restringing the peg.
If your pegs are too loose and keep slipping, try pushing the peg in securely while turning the peg firmly. If this doesn’t work, some cellists use either peg compound or another product called peg drops to stop pegs from slipping (peg drops, also known as peg grip are used solely for slipping pegs).
To apply peg drops, remove the string from the peg, slide the peg out of the pegbox, and apply one or two drops to the part of the peg that contacts the pegbox. Reinsert the peg and try turning it to make sure the peg sticks before restringing the peg.
If you need a temporary quick fix for slipping or tight pegs, some cello teachers use these tips: for sticking pegs, pull the peg partially out, and rub pencil graphite on the sticking part of the peg. For loose pegs, pull the peg partially out, and rub birthday candle wax on the peg to help it stick (some teachers recommend chalk or rosin to help pegs stick, but these substances can be abrasive). If you’re still having problems with your pegs, you may need to take your cello to a cello maker or instrument repair person to reshape or replace the pegs.