Yes, I have started having hand (and arm) issues the last couple of months, and currently, cannot play in high thumb position without real pain.  It has brought my playing to a standstill (I am not a "yung'un" and bowed bass in the upper thumb positions takes a great deal of strength to play.  There was an 18th century theorist-Burney-who described it as requiring the labor of a horse to play). 

From how you describe the situation, it sounds like your feelings are correct.

But again, do try to get the instrument checked out.  If adjustments are needed, the instrument will become easier to play.  Also, scout around for a good cello method book.  That could also help with learning proper fingerings.

As for bowing: try to keep the bow parallel to the bridge, not angled.  Also, curve all your fingers around the stick.  Unlike violin or viola, for both the cello, and French bow for the bass, the little finger does not rest on top of the stick.  You will want to keep the right thumb angled resting sort of roughly between the grip and the frog (that piece of wood that moves a bit in order to tighten the bow hair), and sort of resting into the upper portion of the end of the frog (not explaining this very well).

As for left hand technique, try to keep the forearm at 90 degrees to the neck (i.e. the angle of the fingerboard).  It will make stopping the strings easier.  One of the more common "sloppy" styles is to let the left elbow droop down.  That is ok in first position, but the moment one starts learning positions (i.e. shifting) a lot of extra wasted motion results, as one then has to raise the elbow up in order to shift on down the instrument.  Also, keeping the fingers of the left hand curved is important, as doing so gives more strength in stopping the strings.

Anyway, hope those comments help.

And again, have fun!!

Great tips, there! Thank you!  Surely I can find a cellist around here in this musical area.  I'll check.  And there's always the internet, if nothing else.  

And looks like I found a goldmine of info right here too.  :)  

I can certainly picture you playing one. My youngest son plays cello and is pretty good at it. Played in H.S. Band 4 years. I love the sound of cello and I have a few concertos in my library. Good luck Janet and record us a piano/cello jam! You have Sonar after all. 

Sounds fun. Good luck with it.
Although I just had a rather entertaining Townsendesque vision of you introducing said cello to your chainsaw.

Thanks Bill.  I often wonder what all I would have been able to play well had I started when I was young.  Oh well...probably nothing.  And I probably wouldn't have stuck with it. But it would have been easier w/o aches and pains! lol

Bob, I have my days, but hopefully I'll be able to keep those two far apart. :)  

Hi,

For my tastes, cellos are great and different.

The usage, however, differs, since I like how Bernard Herrman will use the cellos on his soundtracks, and Hitchcock films, and then there is the conventional orchestra styles ... which are sometimes interesting, but often ... just more melody on the same theme.

But there are some interesting uses of the cellos, in rock music that are special ... Esperanto Rock Orchestra did some nice things, including a Dance Macabre version with dueling cellos ... Ides of March (hit song Vehicle in late 60's) had a massive version of Eleanor Rigby with cellos ... and Esperanto also did even more later on an album called "Last Tango" in a couple of very theatrical pieces, including a version of Eleanor Rigby.

What is it with cellos and Eleanor Rigby? ... I have no idea!

My favorite, as an example, and it is one of those way out there in the middle of nowhere land, would be Wolfgang Tiepold and his free form excursions with Klaus Schulze ... pure improvisation at its best and sometimes just way too far out and neat and it creates some rather far out effects and moods.

All in all, it is a very nice instrument ... ALL of them are! ... that when they are accentuated in the right spot and piece, they are monumental in making that piece very special.

Favorite cello/bass player out there? ... David Darling ... catch him in the album called "Eos" with Terje Rypdal, for some of the prettiest chamber music for guitar and bass/cello ever done!
 
Congrats and enjoy the experience ... and hopefully it will help you tremendously ... and if I have a recomendation, think of the instrument as less of an accompanyment, but as a solo, and up front instrument instead of the background ... and yes ... that is my preference.

Thanks Pedro. I'll listen to some of those for more inspiration.

And you can bet if I'm ever gonna play anything, it will be as a solo and upfront!  :)  (at least that's what they accuse me of when I play the piano.)  :)  

But how I use it?  Well, it will probably be sorta like a 6-year-old....

Janet


Thanks Pedro. I'll listen to some of those for more inspiration.

And you can bet if I'm ever gonna play anything, it will be as a solo and upfront!  :)  (at least that's what they accuse me of when I play the piano.)  :)  

But how I use it?  Well, it will probably be sorta like a 6-year-old....

You could hit your drums with it, add a little reverb and then play the clip backwards.

Might work. You'll never know if ya don't try ;)

Janet


Thanks Pedro. I'll listen to some of those for more inspiration.

And you can bet if I'm ever gonna play anything, it will be as a solo and upfront!  :)  (at least that's what they accuse me of when I play the piano.)  :)  

But how I use it?  Well, it will probably be sorta like a 6-year-old....

Like a 6-year old ...
 
And that is the best way ... kinda turns music inside out a bit, but in the end, you find a way to blend with it!

paulo

Janet


Thanks Pedro. I'll listen to some of those for more inspiration.

And you can bet if I'm ever gonna play anything, it will be as a solo and upfront!  :)  (at least that's what they accuse me of when I play the piano.)  :)  

But how I use it?  Well, it will probably be sorta like a 6-year-old....

You could hit your drums with it, add a little reverb and then play the clip backwards.

Might work. You'll never know if ya don't try ;)

Or kinda do it like Stanley Clark ... tap on it with your hand ... and make it a part of the music ... and show us what Return to Forever is all about ... even on stage!