How do you look after a cello? Endpin, bridge, bow and transport

The endpin and how to lay your cello on the floor

The endpin is the metal rod that extends from the bottom of the cello. It slides in and out and is secured with a screw.

• Tighten the screw just enough to keep the endpin from slipping while you play. Using pliers can strip the threads or leave marks on the endpin.
• The tip is sharp to prevent slipping. On wood, tile, or carpeted floors, use a nonslip endpin stop or strap: these protect the floor and keep the cello from sliding while you play.
• Retract the endpin fully before putting the cello away. If left extended, it can puncture the bag or strike the inside of the case.
• If the endpin is bent or no longer slides smoothly, do not force it: take it to a luthier.

Where to put it during a break

Lay it on its side on the floor, resting on the rim, never on its back or front, with the bridge facing away from foot traffic. Put the bow on the music stand or in its case, not on a chair. A cello stand is even better if you have room. Never leave it upright against a wall, chair or music stand: a slight bump can make it slide and fall onto the bridge or scroll.

Bridge and strings

The cello bridge is taller than a violin bridge, and the strings press down on it with greater force, so it can easily lean when you tune with the pegs. Look at it from the side every week: the face toward the tailpiece should be nearly perpendicular to the soundboard.

• Use the fine tuners whenever possible and the pegs only for large adjustments. Fewer peg turns mean less pull on the bridge.
• If it is leaning, ask your teacher or luthier to straighten it or show you how. With a bridge this tall, one wrong movement can knock it over.
• Change strings one at a time, never all at once, so the bridge stays in place and the soundpost (the wooden piece inside, near the bridge foot on the A-string side) does not fall.
• Use each string change as an opportunity to apply pencil graphite to the bridge and nut grooves.

Cello strings last a long time, but not forever: if they sound dull, look worn where the bow contacts them, or have unraveling windings, it is time to replace them. You can check your tuning with the online cello tuner.

And if you want to tune it in fifths or with harmonics, follow our guide on how to tune a cello.

Padded bag or hard case: which to choose

If your child takes a cello to school or orchestra, a hard case is usually the better investment: hallways, buses, and crowded rooms are where bumps commonly happen. For an adult going from home to the car and from the car to a lesson, a good padded bag may be enough. Either way, choose one with a bow compartment and backpack straps.

How to transport a cello safely

On foot, by bus, or on TransMilenio

• Carry it on your back using both straps rather than just one to keep your balance.
• When going through doorways, turning, or climbing stairs, remember the scroll: it sticks up above your head and is the first part to get hit.
• On the bus, stand or sit where you can hold it upright and close to you, away from the door. At rush hour, a hard case keeps crowd pressure from reaching the soundboard.

By car

• Keep it inside the passenger compartment, never in the trunk with luggage on top. Many cellists place it on the back seat with a seat belt fastened around it.
• Do not leave it in a car parked in the sun: the temperature rises quickly and affects glue, varnish, and rosin.

By plane

A cello in a soft case should not go in the cargo hold. Many cellists buy an extra seat for their instrument, while others use specialized flight cases. Rules vary by airline, so check well in advance.

After a long trip or a change in climate, such as descending from Bogotá to a warmer region, leave the cello in its case for a while before opening it, and check the bridge, tuning, and seams before playing loudly.

Cello bow and rosin

A cello bow is shorter and heavier than a violin bow, but just as delicate. The same rules apply: loosen the hair before putting it away, do not touch the hair with your fingers, and protect the tip from knocks against the music stand or the next chair in the orchestra.

• Cello rosin is softer than violin rosin: it grips thicker strings better, but gets dirty and softens more easily. Keep it in its little box, away from the sun.
• A few strokes are enough; too much leaves sticky dust on the soundboard.
• After playing, wipe the strings, the soundboard beneath them, and the bow stick with a dry cloth. Avoid alcohol and furniture products: they damage the varnish.
• If the bow no longer tightens properly or has lost a lot of hair, it is time for a rehair.

Many of these care routines also apply to the violin; for more detail on rosin and cleaning varnish, see how to clean and care for a violin.

Humidity and climate

A cello's wooden plates are much larger than a violin's, and humidity changes affect it more. In Bogotá, dry seasons and heaters can open the seams between the soundboard and ribs or crack the wood. In warmer regions, high humidity swells the wood, raises the strings, makes the varnish sticky, and encourages mold in the bag.

• Use a case humidifier during dry seasons, always well drained.
• In humid weather, do not keep the cello in a closed bag inside an unventilated closet.
• A new buzz, a crack, or a gap between the soundboard and ribs calls for a visit to the luthier that same week.

For humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and travel, see how to store instruments in Colombia's different climates. If you are starting cello, your teacher will show you from your very first lesson how to take it out of the case, sit with it, and put it down safely.

Frequently asked questions