Skip to main content

Tricks to Shifting on the Cello

Shifting makes it possible to play the entire length of the cello.

Shifting, also known as changing position, on the cello, is a complex subject with many possible tricks to make the process of shifting less complicated. Some cellists think in terms of shifting from note to note and others think in terms of position to position. Shifting between positions uses less movement, which makes mistakes less likely. Shifting from note to note can get complicated and leaves additional room for error since your entire hand has to move more often.

Positions


Determine the position before and after the shift occurs. Practice moving the first finger from the first position to the first finger in the second position. Once you have established what it feels like to move from one position to the next, it is easier to add in the extra notes. On the cello, your index, middle, ring and the pinky finger can be positioned to play four base notes. This makes it easier to play since if you need to play a note with your first or third finger all you have to do is depress the string since the finger is already in place.

Control


When first learning to shift from position to position, move slowly. Moving too fast will create an uneven and uncontrolled movement. By learning to move slowly, at first, you increase your accuracy and eventually speed will come as a result of familiarity. Resist the urge to practice everything as fast as you can, this will only result in a sloppy shifting technique. Concentrate on moving from position one to position two, then one to three and so on through all seven basic positions.

Anticipation


Begin moving the arm early to prevent a jerky shifting. Moving the arm from a resting position to the new position immediately creates tension. Instead, once you have played the notes with each finger, begin to move those fingers and angle the arm toward the new position. Time the movement of the arm so that you never stop moving. This will provide you with a smoother transition. If you move too fast, you will have to abruptly stop the movement, if you move the arm too slow, you won't make it to the next position in time. Practice getting the movement timed exactly.

Half-Circles


Avoid moving from one position to the next by moving in a straight line. It is true that a straight line is the shortest distance, but it creates extra tension. By using a half-circle movement toward the new position, you create momentum which frees the arm from some of the tension that a direct line would create. Practice this technique by moving the elbow in a half-circle while preparing to land in the new position. This will help incorporate more muscles into the process, thereby reducing the tension.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Why Claude Debussy Never Cared About Music Theory

  Claude Debussy was born on August 22, 1862. So, I felt writing a blog post to celebrate would be appropriate. Debussy was a revolutionary composer who challenged the conventions of Western music. He was influenced by the impressionist painters, the exotic sounds of gamelan music, and the symbolist poets. He created a musical language that was expressive, colorful, and atmospheric. One of the most remarkable aspects of Debussy's music is his use of harmony. He did not follow the rules of tonality and functional harmony that dominated the music of his time. Instead, he used modes, scales, chords, and parallel movements that created a sense of ambiguity and fluidity. He also experimented with timbre, texture, rhythm, and form to create musical images that evoked moods and emotions. Debussy's music can inspire us to think outside the box and explore new possibilities in our own compositions. We can learn from his innovative techniques and his artistic vision. We can also apprecia...
Post a Comment
Read more

List of Musical Techniques and Their Meanings

Musical techniques are the building blocks of any basic music training. These techniques allow performers to improve their coordination and develop accuracy through repetitive daily exercises. Musical techniques progressively build upon previously learned techniques. Scales Scales form the basis for other musical techniques. Student may study major and minor scales as well as modern scales, such as the whole-tone and octatonic scales. A scale consists of patterns of half steps and whole steps. These whole steps and half-step arrangements will be different for each scale. Scales are musical techniques that can help a performer to play faster and more accurately, and make learning new pieces easier. Chords Chords require knowledge of major and minor scales. Chords come in several different forms that affect the sound. Triads consist of three notes spaced a third apart and classified as major, minor, augmented and diminished chords. Seventh chords build on triads and have an additional no...
Post a Comment
Read more

Similarities of Classical and Baroque Music

Music has evolved through the centuries and undergone drastic changes. One of the most significant transitions was from the Baroque to the Classical period of music. In this paragraph, I will compare and contrast some of the main features of these two styles, such as ensembles, instrumentation, and counterpoint study. The Baroque and Classical periods of music have many similarities. While the style of music changed drastically, certain key elements remained the same between the two styles. Composers in the Classical period sought to simplify music and create clearly audible musical lines. In contrast, composers from the Baroque period were interested in creating complex and highly ornamented musical lines. The Baroque period occurs from approximately 1600 to 1750, and the Classical period extends from 1750 to 1820. Ensembles Ensembles are groups of musicians that perform together. Both the Baroque and the Classical period had similar types of ensembles, such as operas, orchestras, str...
Post a Comment
Read more