The Best Beginner Cello
Choosing the most delicate beginner cello for your child might be challenging. That’s normal. Understanding the instrument more will help. It will also help to know more about your child’s desire to play a student cello.
Quick Picks: The Best Beginner Cello
Product Name | Product image | Check Price |
|---|---|---|
Cecilio CCO-100 Student Cello |  | |
Knilling School Model 1/2 Cello Outfit |  | |
Merano Student Cello |  | |
D Z strad Cello Model 101 Student Cello |  |
Things To Consider
Does My Child Want to Play the Cello?
Many children and their families think about committing to a musical instrument. It is a big decision. Buying one is a lot of money. Renting one for a short time is an excellent way to determine if the child wants to play the instrument. If they do, they will keep renting it.
Remember that a person might not like their chosen instrument right away. It takes time to get good at something and to enjoy it. Cello is the same way. A person needs to practice and show they want to improve before you buy them a student cello.
What Size Does Cello My Child Need?
Cellos come in four standard sizes. A fraction represents the size. A 4/4 cello is a full-size cello. Almost all adult players will use it. A 7/8 cello is available for slightly smaller adults but is not very common. The next size down is a ¾ cello, typically best suited to players between 11 and 15 years old. Beginning students between the ages of seven and 11 will most likely need a ½-size cello. The youngest players, ages five to seven years old, should use a ¼-size cello.
These are suggestions based on the average-sized child. If your son or daughter is shorter or taller than average, it is still possible to figure out what size cello will fit them best. Players four foot and under should buy a 1/4 size cello. The ½-size cello is for those players between four and five feet tall. When your child grows past five-foot tall, they can use a ¾-size cello until they are about six feet tall. After that, a 4/4 cello is most appropriate.
If you think your child is close to a growth spurt, you may want to rent a cello that is the right size instead of buying one. But you should also consider how much money you can get for a gently used cello if you decide to sell it later.
What Is the Resale Value of Student Cellos?
The best estimates say that student cellos will sell for no more than 60% of their initial retail value. That assumes they were of decent quality to begin with, and that their first owner did not abuse them. However, at certain times of the year, the market is more saturated than others. For example, the end of a school year finds many students moving on to the next hobby. It will be harder to recoup your investment when the market is flooded with student cellos.
What Else Do You Need?
To play the cello, you need more than just the cello itself. You’ll also need a bow, a music stand, extra cello strings, and a bag or case to carry. Rosin to make the strings stick to the bow, a shoulder rest, a tuner to keep the instrument in tune, a metronome to help you save time, and an endpin stop or anchor.
Each of these items comes in different quality levels. Sometimes you can buy a cello bundled with these accessories. After a few months’ experience, your student or teacher may realize the limitations of these included items. So don’t be surprised if you need to upgrade to a higher-quality bow or strings. That is all normal for a growing musician.
Is the Student Cello Flat Packed?
It is an important question to ask. Some lower-end cello companies sell cellos that you have to put together yourself. But it is risky to do this because you might damage the cello. Most teachers advise their students not to do this and buy a pre-assembled cello or take it to a professional when it arrives.
When you install the bridge, you will not be able to play your cello immediately. It could be very disappointing for your aspiring cellist. There is nothing wrong with flat packing. But it is essential to consider how much it will cost to have a professional assemble the cello before you buy an inexpensive student cello.
Five Best Beginner Cello Brands Review
This cello will immediately catch many parents’ eyes because it has many accessories. When you purchase this cello, you will receive a soft case, stand, bow, rosin, bridge, and an extra set of strings. The case is padded with backpack-style straps to make carrying this beginner’s cello back and forth from school or practice easier.
The spruce top and maple neck on this cello is supposed to be resistant to cracks. If you drop it, the harder floors like tile or wood might cause it to break. The sides, back, pegs, and fingerboard are also made of the maple-like neck. The alloy tailpiece includes four fine tuners. There is a one-year manufacturer’s warranty on this cello.
This four-size, five-color cello is available. Pink, blue, purple, black metallic, and natural. 14, 2/4, 3/4, 4/4.
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This student cello may not come in multiple colors, but it is still a beautiful instrument. The flamed maple back is excellent color, and the even grain spruce top will make the sound attractive.
This cello comes pre-assembled with popular D’Addario Prelude strings. It also includes a padded nylon cover and a reinforced handle. Plus, it comes with a brazilwood bow strung with white horsehair.
This violin model is available in all four standard sizes. It is simple to quickly get an accurate tuning even when string adjusters have no access.
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This cello has the tools you need to start playing it immediately. It includes rosin, a music stand, metro tuner, mute, cell stand, and an extra set of strings. Plus, it has a fantastic blue paint job.
The hardwood frog, pegs, and fingerboard are both functional and pleasing to the eye. The ebonizing paint helps to keep costs down, but it is not natural ebony. It is protected from damage when your child uses the padded carrying bag to transport it from home to lessons or school.
Some people might buy this beginner cello and not know if it is fully assembled. If it is not, they might need to take it to a luthier. Double-check before you make your purchase. Or, if you don’t want to do that, make sure you understand the return policy in case something goes wrong.
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Cellos that cost more money are made with more care. The people who create these cellos take their time to do it well. They use their hands to carve the pegs, tailpiece, and chin rest. This cello comes with a case, bow, strings, and rosin.
This cello is perfect for your child to start learning. Cello teachers like this particular instrument because of the quality that is present even with the reasonable price. It produces a consistent sound quality because human hands make it instead of machines. This assembly process takes place in France.
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The tonewoods used in these cellos produce a beautiful rich sound. If you have any teaching and motivation to do well, you can pull the lovely quality sound from this cello. It was manufactured in California and included components from all over the world.
This cello has unique fittings, including Indian rosewood and swiss-style pegs. It also has a composite tailpiece. Plus, it has four fine tuners to help keep the instrument in tune.
The Cremona Student Cello Outfits are available in four different sizes. It is a good choice for students who are progressing because it can keep up with them. Working professionals even use these cellos.
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The Best Cellos for Beginners
If you want to buy a cello, you’ve come to the right place. Purchasing a new instrument can be hard for beginners, especially if it is a pricey instrument like the cello.
However, if you conduct adequate research, making the appropriate decision will be simple. We decided to compile a list of the top 12 beginning cellos. Let’s get started!
12 Best Cellos For Beginners
The Windsor MI-3006 is an excellent first cello for students. It has a spruce tonewood and maple neck, sides, and fingerboard. It also comes with a horsehair bow.
The Windsor MI-3006 is a full-size cello that is good for people 15 years old or older. It has a height-adjustable spike that may come in handy, and it also has a rich tone.
This cello might not have the same build quality as some more expensive ones. Still, it is a good one to start practicing on and see if you are ready to make a more significant investment.
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The Crescent 4/4 Cello Starter Kit is an excellent option to save money. It costs less than $200 and offers a good sound and a comfortable playing experience.
This beginner cello is a good value for the price. The top is spruce, and the back, neck, and sides are maple. The bow and pegs could be higher quality, but they still function adequately. It also comes with a padded bag, rosin, and an extra set of strings.
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The D’Luca MC100 is a superb low-cost model with good sound quality and features. It includes all necessary attachments, such as a clip-on tuner and a portable stand. Plus, it has a stylish finish and a beautiful design.
Because of its solid structure and high-quality materials, the D’Luca MC100 is an excellent alternative for students and beginners needing a full-size cello. It is also quite durable.
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The Lykos Acoustic Cello is a stylish and unique-looking instrument with excellent sound quality. It produces lovely, crisp, durable tones because of its crack-proof top. Plus, it has all the necessary extras: a soft carrying bag, rosin, and a bow made from arbor and white horsetail. And it’s pretty affordable too!
The Lykos Acoustic Cello starter cello might look cool, but it also has some great features. It will give you a comfortable playing experience and a beautiful sound, so you will want to practice regularly.
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If you’re looking for an affordable starter cello, the Merano MC400 is an excellent option. It costs only $300 and comes with many accessories, like a cello stand, music stand, tuner and metronome, bow, and carrying bag.
The Merano MC400’s top, back, neck, and sides are spruce; the fingerboard and pegs are ebonies. It means it can generate some pretty pleasant tones.
After all, Merano is a respected instrument brand, and none of its models will disappoint you.
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This Knilling Bucharest cello is an excellent choice for both beginner and intermediate cello players. Its sound quality is superb, and its fingerboard, nut, and tailpiece are made from natural ebony. Plus, it comes with renowned Perfection Pegs.
This bow is made by hand in Romania. It has a sophisticated appeal and a professional appearance. It doesn’t come with many extras, but it does include a Glasser fiberglass bow with white horsehair.
The Knilling Bucharest Model Carved Cello is a beautiful and durable instrument in different sizes, making it suitable for learners of all ages.
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The Cecilio CCO-500 cello is an excellent choice for beginner cellists. It costs around $500, a bit more expensive than the CCO-100 model. However, this higher price tag means you get a more resilient and durable instrument.
This instrument has a hand-carved spruce top and flamed maple neck, back, and sides. It also boasts a mother-of-pearl inlaid ebony fingerboard, pegs, and tailpiece. It is unusual for this price range.
A sturdy case, a bow made of Brazilwood with unbleached natural Mongolian horsehair strung on it, and rosin are included with the purchase of a Cecilio CCO-500 cello. In addition, it comes with a cello stand and an additional string set. The manufacturer offers a guarantee that covers any problems for one year. This cello is perfect for beginner and intermediate students because it has excellent sound and quality.
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This student cello features a fingerboard and pegs made of blackened hardwood carved entirely out of solid tonewoods. Even though it was manufactured in China, the overall construction quality is relatively high. The Stentor 1102 Student will simultaneously fulfill your needs and help you improve your performance.
This violin has a straight-grained fingerboard (not natural ebony) and a composite tailpiece with adjusters for easy tuning.
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To practice on a unique beginner cello, you should look at the Merano MC100BK. This starter cello is not only eye-catching, but it also provides excellent sound quality and good value for money.
The cello is easy to play, which makes it a good choice for beginners. The top is spruce, the back, neck, and sides are maple, and the pegs and fingerboard are ebonies. These materials are typical for beginning cellos.
It is a good cello that will let you practice and learn regularly.
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This model will help you stand out from other people who have violins. It makes a warm sound. When you buy this violin, you get a soft padded bag with pockets and backpack straps, a bow, rosin, and a bridge.
The Waful Acoustic Cello comprises maple, spruce, and basswood and is full size.
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This violin comes with everything you need for your practice. It is hand-carved and has a high gloss finish. It also looks antique-inspired and features a solid spruce top, solid maple back and sides, neck, and scroll. It also has nice inlaid purfling.
The Paititi PTTCE101 Cello is crafted of ebony and comes with a rosin cake, rosin, and a cushioned bag. This model is excellent for aspiring cellists and novices of all ages. It features pegs, fingerboard, chinrest, and tailpiece (with a built-in fine tuner) made from ebony.
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Electric cellos have numerous advantages, including the Yamaha SVC-110SK Silent Electric Cello, which allows you to practice without disturbing others. You can just play with the provided headphones. This way, you can play whenever you want without worrying about bothering other people.
This Yamaha electric cello offers the possibility to amplify the sound. It also uses an outline of an acoustic cello body, which gives it an intimate feel to the acoustic cello. Plus, the sound is incredible too!
Use headphones if you don’t want to disturb your family or neighbors while practicing the cello. The Yamaha SVC-110SK Silent Electric Cell may be your best option.
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How to Choose the Best Cello for a Beginner
Cellos come in various shapes and sizes, and their pricing also varies. So, how can you determine which model is ideal for you?
If you are a beginner and this is your first cello, seek help from someone knowledgeable about them. They can help you choose the best one for your needs.
It is also essential to know what to look for in a cello and what makes it a good-quality instrument. This knowledge will help you understand your instrument better. Learning an instrument will be more straightforward and rational if you educate yourself.
Size
When buying a cello, it’s essential to choose the right size. There are six basic sizes, and adults usually select the full size (4/4 size), which has a back length of 30 inches or more. There are also smaller sizes for children and young players.
You must consider your age, arm length, finger span, and height to choose the right cello size. You can use this chart to figure out the best size for you. It is essential to know this if you are shopping for a cello online and can’t hold it before buying it.
Materials
If you want a strong-sounding instrument, it must be composed of high-quality materials. Cellos are typically made with a spruce top and maple sides. The fingerboard and pegs must also be made of tough, long-lasting wood.
However, budget-friendly models are typically constructed using less expensive components. Laminate wood is an illustration. Although laminated cellos are inexpensive, they may not sound perfect.
You should always try to invest in a good-quality instrument. It will help you improve your skills and last longer. The material making the frame of the bow is also essential. They are usually made from Pernambuco, carbon fiber, or generic hardwood.
Strings
Cellos come in different sizes, but the most common type has four strings. The four strings are tuned to C, G, D, and A. Some cellos have five strings, but this list mainly contains information about 4-string cellos because they are the ones you will likely start your practice sessions on.
Strings have an impact on the sound you produce as well as your overall playing experience. It is critical to have decent ones. As a novice, you don’t need the most expensive strings, but you also don’t want the cheapest alternative. You will also have to replace them sometimes, so many models come with an extra pair of strings.
You will need better quality strings as you get better at playing the cello. Even professional cellists use different sets of strings to bring out the best sound from their instruments. But for now, it is enough to have reliable strings that are decent quality. Evah Pirazzi, Larsen, and Thomastik-Infeld are three of the most popular brands.
Varnish
The cello needs varnish to protect it from grease, dirt, and humidity. But most importantly, the varnish affects the sound of the cello. If the cello has too much varnish, it will resonate less.
A good cello varnish should be transparent and soft so the cello can vibrate freely. It should also be smooth and thin, so it looks elegant.
Acoustic vs. Electric Cello
There are two types of cellos- electric and acoustic. Acoustic cellos are the traditional type, creating a sound when you play them. Electric cellos have different sounds, but they are becoming more popular because they are easier to play. Some great electric models sound very similar to acoustic versions.
The electric silent cello lets you practice with headphones. It is excellent if you want to practice at odd hours without disturbing other people.
Electric cellos are especially good for beginners who want to practice at home. There are many different models, and they all look neat and modern. But acoustic cellos are used mainly by students and teachers. It all depends on what you prefer.
New Vs. Used Cello
When choosing a cello, you must decide whether you want a new or pre-owned one. Second-hand cellos are usually cheaper, but it’s essential to check if the previous owner took good care of them.
You’ll need to ensure that the instrument you’re buying is in good condition. You’ll need to check the varnish and look for any woodworm damage. It might be in mint condition if it’s a brand new instrument, but that doesn’t mean it’s good quality.
It is usually safer to buy a new instrument, especially if you invest in a long-lasting, high-quality cello.
There is another alternative. Many adult beginners opt to rent their first cello.
Renting a cello allows you to start practicing right away without the pressure of finding the perfect instrument to buy.
If you continue improving your cello playing, you may want to consider renting a better model. The availability of good rental models depends on your location.
How to Get the Best Beginner Cello for You?
When purchasing a new cello, there are several factors to consider. Obtaining the proper size is one of the most crucial aspects. You can do this by looking at the cello size guide on the internet. Another essential thing to consider is the quality of the cello. Make sure to look for signs that it is a good-quality instrument.
However, high-quality materials and varnish are also essential. They influence the sound of the cello and the playing experience as a whole. And they contribute to the durability of the instrument.
Your cello should be simple and easy to play.
You can find good beginner cellos from the best instrument brands. They are often durable and comfortable. Plus, they are affordable. Ensure you get enough information and advice from experienced friends or teachers before making your decision. You don’t want to regret your choice later on.
Conclusion
There are different price ranges for cellos. You have cellos that are a few hundred dollars, near 1,000 dollars, and then some that exceed $2,000. The cellos closer to $2000 than $1000 are not appropriate for the cellist who is still a beginner. That being said, the Cremona SC-165 cello is the best student beginner cello available because it is affordable and has excellent features.
This cello comes in four sizes so that it will fit any child. The quality of this instrument also makes it a good investment. If your child eventually moves on to other artistic pursuits, this cello will still be worth a lot of money. It also comes completely assembled, so the price is slightly higher than some other cellos. You won’t have to take the cello to a luthier immediately as you would with a brand new one. Your child can play for a little while and then have it inspected for quality and sound.
The hard shell case that comes with the Cremona will protect your child’s instrument. If your child grows out of the Cremona SC-165, you can buy a bigger one because it comes in multiple sizes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Beginner Cello
It is possible to teach yourself how to play the cello. However, it will require a lot of practice and dedication. You can watch videos of lessons and players, study sheet music, and just put in the time. These are all key factors in learning how to play this instrument independently.
If you are a beginning student between the ages of 7 and 11, you will need a cello that is ½ size. Students between 5 and 7 years old should use a 14-size cello
An electric cello can be an excellent option for any cellist who wants to try something different than the traditional acoustic cello. They also make great gifts. Electric cellos can be fun to play, but they’re harder to find in music stores, so we have decided to review the best electric cellos here.
There are a few different sizes of adult cellos. Cellists with small hands will likely find playing on a shorter string length cello easier. It usually means a more temporary body cello, called a “Ladies Cello” or 7/8th size.
If you are a cellist, you know it is essential to have a cello stand. So your instrument will be safe and easy to reach. It is also an excellent way to show your passion for the cello.
The best cellos were likely made in Italy in Stradivari’s time. In the past 100 years or so, Germans have been considered to be leaders in cello construction.
Cellos that are not too expensive are a great option if you are on a budget. They will give you a good value for your money and meet all your expectations.
Cello is more difficult than a guitar. You need lessons to learn how to play it. The guitar is much easier, so you can learn it without any lessons by watching youtube videos and playing around. If you can afford it, I recommend learning the instrument you prefer.
Some students ask whether the violin or the cello is more challenging. People who have played both instruments claim that the cello is easier to play since its stance is more natural. The violin’s position can initially feel unpleasant, but expert violinists swear it eventually becomes natural.
Read more: Choosing the Right Cello Strings
