As a cello teacher, the most common question I receive from beginners or the parents of a young cello student is, “How do I tune the cello when it goes out of tune?”. Playing on a cello which is out of tune can really affect one’s practice, progress, and most important, enjoyment. Personally, I think it is important to understand the reasons that cause a cello to go out of tune in order for students to prevent that as much as possible. I will also share on the common mistakes one should avoid when the cello is out of tune.

How to prevent and minimise the chances?
A cello can easily go out of tune, especially when:
1. The pegs are touched accidentally by taking out or keeping the instrument in a soft cover.
Most beginners invest in a soft carrier for their cello. The risk of knocking and unintentional adjustments to the peg are high no matter how much care is given. To solve this problem, a semi-hard case can be considered to store your cello.

2. The temperature changes.
All wooden instruments are extremely sensitive to temperature fluctuations. So try to avoid direct sunlight and always keep your cello in a cool and low-humidity environment. During transportation, take extra care to avoid exposing your instrument to extreme temperature changes such as leaving it in the car for long period in direct sunlight, etc.

Common mistakes that should be avoided when all the strings are out of tune:
When all the strings are out of tune, always tune the cello from the lower strings (C & G) first, as A & D are thinner and get damaged more easily. Do not start tuning the A string first. Uneven pressure to the bridge will cause it to be tilted or damaged. Ensure that the bridge is always kept straight. You should therefore avoid tuning one string to the correct pitch before starting on the others. Always tune all 4 strings together until each is at the correct pitch.

Also, do not leave the fine tuner too tight. Always leave the fine tuner half way to allow adjusting tighter or looser. Use the fine tuner only after adjusting all the strings by the tuning pegs.

Tuning a cello properly takes practice and is therefore not recommended for young children without the guidance and supervision of their parents or professionals. Please feel free to contact me if you are keen to learn more about tuning the cello properly.