ACOUSTIC CELLO vs ELECTRIC CELLO: Does one use a different technique playing them?
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- Опубліковано 11 лип 2024
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In this video we explore where you use a different technique when playing electric cello versus acoustic cello?
What does a false harmonic sound like on an electric cello? Let's find out!
INSTAGRAM: / dorette_roos
WEBSITE: www.doretteroos.com/
I would venture to say that this was your best post to date. I have enjoyed each of your video's and subjects, but this time your playing, composition of the subject and playing were outstanding. Oh, and the bloopers made me smile, don't stop that trend!
Thank you! Haha yes there are so many bloopers I didn't include because most of the time I am swearing :D
Thank you so much for posting this! I live in a city apartment and tend to work long hours so the only practice time I would potentially have is in the middle of the night. I've been wanting to get an electric cello for years (I even tried playing the NS Design a few years ago!) and now thanks to your video I've finally been confident enough to go ahead and make the purchase! Very excited!!
It is such a pleasure! I am so happy this video was helpful and that you are going to go for it! Enjoy!
@@DoretteRoos just wanted to let you know, I got my svc-210sk shortly after that and it's been everything I've wanted and more! Thanks so much!!!
@@kota2223 Amazing!! They are such high quality instruments - its a pleasure to play!
I am thinking the same
Super cool to re-discover you my long lost friend! Awesome video. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I look forward to all your content.
Whoo hoo! Thank you for watching :)
Thank you for this, this video is exactly what i needed to feel confident in buying an electric to learn quietly
Ah so happy to hear :)
The electric got much more bass with your amp settings but I think the main advantage of the electric cello is that you can dial in your tone with different amps, eq and effect pedals. The possibilities are infinite
You can do the same things with acoustic cello using a pickup
Thanks Dorette; very useful before my decisions 🙂
So happy to hear this :)
The SVC-210 has your Physical Cue points which Yamaha put a lot of thought into
Dorette Roos // Electric Cello
The Helicore Cello Strings actually have a Stranded Steel Core so they sound mellower.
Закончил музыкальную школу 20 лет назад. И все эти 20 лет не брал виолончель в руки. Скучаю по ней. Подскажите, пожалуйста, какую виолончель посоветуете для любителя. Электро или акустику. И что скажете о фирмах, какие посоветуете?
Graduated from music school 20 years ago. And all these 20 years I haven't picked up a cello. I miss her. Please tell me which cello you would recommend for an amateur. Electro or acoustics. And what do you say about the firms that you recommend?
Now I started on Electric Guitar cause the lower action made it easier for me to play than an Acoustic Guitar, that should be true for all Electric instruments cause they're easier to play, same goes for Electric Bowed instruments (Electric Cellos in particular) because of their easier action, & they tend to be a tad bit smaller so they're more like 7/8 size Cellos than 4/4 size Cellos
Thank you for the informative video! I’ve purchased an electric acoustic cello, and I’m trying to navigate it lol, most ppl have one or the other! If you have time to answer (you must be busy!) what sort of set up would you recommend for beginners on electric? I think I need a preamp, headphones and a small amp, but I’m so lost haha, I can’t even pick the headphones! x
You should get in-ear stage monitors with this cello. Headphones get in the way very easily which makes it difficult to play with.
@@Paul8301 Thank you for replying! Currently having health issues (with my hands) that stop me from playing, but I’ll definitely look into this for the future! I didn’t think of that ha, about how headphones would get in the way! 😅 Thanks 😊
Nice video! Which amplifier do you recommend for this yamaha silent cello?
Hi Lara! Sorry for the slow reply here :) I missed this one! I have a Mark Acoustic Bass Amp - and the sound quality is really great, however it is pricey. The amp definitely plays quite a roll in the sound you get - so go for the highest quality that you can afford. It doesn't have to be a big amp rather go for quality. And try out some different ones if you have the option.
www.markbass.it/product-detail/ac-101-h/
I have this one
@@Dorette_Roos Daddario Helicore Full Sized Medium Tension Cello strings are a good fit because they take advantage of the Pickup plus they're easier to bow cause they're a bit thinner. If you're restringing the SV-210 I reccomend getting a Bass String winder so you can crank the tuners.
Hi Dorette. This was really so helpful! Are you using the same bow on both instruments? Would you advise a carbon fiber bow for the electric instrument or does it not really matter? Also, my son uses Larson Solo on his acoustic cello - should we set up the electric Yamaha we will be purchasing for him as a practice cello for travel with the same strings? Also, the SVC-50 is much more affordable than the SVC-210 (since we just bought him a beautiful acoustic cello) - will it be as nearly good in your view? Thanks so much
Hi Kathryn! Ah I am so happy to hear you found this helpful :) I used the same bow (wood with traditional hair) on both instruments in this video. Any bow will work. I recently purchased a Coruss carbon fiber bow with synthetic hair for my electric cello and it is fabulous!
I also use Larson strings on both cellos - this is nice - as the string response is consistent with both instruments. I have not played on a SVC 50 before, however I am sure being a Yamaha, this will also be good quality - as with the 110 and 210 x
@@Dorette_Roos thanks for your reply - we just bought a used SVC-50. Now I would love to ask you about air travel with the electric cello. We’re going on holiday this week and he has Juilliard exams and recitals shortly afterwards. I was shocked that it’s not so much smaller in terms of length so would not fit in the overhead bin on an airplane and the soft bag looks like it won’t offer sufficient protection for the hold. What do you do when you fly with your Yamaha? Any advice? I bought a hard golf case to try that and it would fit the soft case but then it’s so big that we won’t be able to fit it into our rental car trunk on the other end. The trials of having serious cellists in the family!
@@kathrynlachman1586 Traveling with a cello of any shape and size is very tricky! The electric cello soft bag/casing (as is) is definitely not suitable for traveling in the hold. Obviously first prize is an extra seat :) But I mean this is too expensive for most flights.
What I usually do for INTERNATIONAL flights are to transfer my electric cello to my flight case (I have an amazing Stevenson carbon fiber case) and then wrap extra padding (foam) around the case and put in the hold.
For LOCAL flights the airline usually allow me to carry my electric cello to the door of the aircraft and give it back to me as I leave the aircraft - like a baby stroller. I always check and confirm this beforehand.
However on international flight they don't necessarily allow this and it very much differs from Airline to Airline. And of course you can't risk them saying no and it going as is to the hold. I would make contact with the airline and get a gauged on their rules for this. And if they do allow this as part of their rules - get it in writing :)
Goodluck! This is always the most stressful part of cello playing journeys!
@@Dorette_Roos You could also use that same bow on your Acoustic Cello too. Synthetic bow hair is also great for vegetarians.
У@@Dorette_Roos
Further question for you since you have experience with both electric and acoustic... I'm thinking that the acoustic resonance that you feel with a traditional cello leaning on your body would be a big positive part of the experience. Do you find that you miss this aspect when playing an electric?
Yeah a bit - it is nice to have a large acoustic instrument that is physically close and present while you play. I like hugging my cello! :)
@@Dorette_Roos Yamaha has cleverly solved that problem by adding physical cue points.
Great video. Did you change the bridge on the Yamaha cello? I just bought a SVC-210 and the same technique is not possible because the bridge is not fitted. I think I need to replace it.
Hey DJ! No I did not change the bridge. I use the original Yamaha bridge that came with the SVC 210. However - you are right - its does not arrive with the bridge or strings set up - as it is too risky to ship/transport if it is already fitted. It is fairly straight forward to know "where" to place the bridge, because it has the little black ridge - however fitting the position and angle of the bridge and string correctly is much more challenging. I would suggest maybe to get a professional player or luthier to assist with this - then it should be completely accurate and easy/same as an acoustic instrument. Hope this helps :)
@@Dorette_Roos I took the cello to my luthier, who cut and thinned the bridge to its proper fit, as well as lowering the nut slightly. Now, the SVC 210 is playable, and technique is consistent for both cellos. Thank you.
@@djmay4315 Oh great to hear!
My Cello is a 5 String Acoustic-Electric made by Yinfente and it has a High E string which is an Octave below the same string on the Violin.
Here it is:ua-cam.com/video/F0_BnuvFFrw/v-deo.html
Interesting!
@@Dorette_Roos The high E String moves the higher notes to an Easier position plus the thinner sound gives more clarity.
@@RockStarOscarStern634 I can imagine! Would love to try that!
@@Dorette_Roos You'll also love using those Yinfente Double Bass Style Cello Geared Tuners on your Acoustic Cello because it'll hold tune better plus you'll no longer need fine tuners on that tailpiece.
I have an NS. I think the yamaha is better. I just use the NS to either rock out or practice silently😁
❤❤❤
What devices or effects do you use with your Yamaha to enhance its sound?
Usually I just use a basic reverb setting on my amp to add some warmth to the sound.
Brand of Acoustic Cello? Daddario Helicore Full Size Medium Tension Strings give you optional playability and they're easier to bow cause they're a bit thinner.
Hi! Thank you for the comment :) True the thinner strings are easier to bow, however I find the Helicore sound quite "wirey" on my cello. In general I find strings to be quite personal in preference - to sound, feel and instrument response.
@@Dorette_Roos The thinner gauge of Helicore Strings really makes bowing easier, which is why beginners also love them for Ultimate Play ability. Full Sized Acoustic Cellos sound great w/ a Pickup added & plugged into the amp, & I think Fractional sized Cellos could also use a Realist Copper Head Piezo Pickup because they don't sound as big as Full Sized Cellos Acoustically, but when plugged into the amp they sound bigger. Helicore Strings are a good match for Electric Cello cause the Stranded Steel Core takes advantage of any Pickup, & the sound isn't as Wirey as you think, it's more akin to Natural Gut Strings on the Baroque Cello made up of 2 Plain Gut Strings, & 2 Wound Gut Strings. So to simulate that Baroque Gut String Cello sound w/ Helicore Strings the 2 Top Strings are Wound in Titanium & the 2 Bottom Strings are wound in Tungsten-Silver, so the sound of Helicore Strings is a little bit Darker than an average Steel Core String set.
@@Dorette_Roos Actually they have Damping Materials so they're not quite as bright sounding.
@@Dorette_Roos Modern Cello Strings are Flatwound.
When playing your Yamaha silent, what type of headphones do you prefer?
Hi Larry! I actually rarely use headphones while playing, as I like to play it unplugged instead, but of course this is not completely silent. I have a pair of Sennheiser headphones that work really nicely. The SVC210 came with a headphone set, but I find them uncomfortable, so I don't use them. The standard mic jack will allow you to use headphones of your choice. x
It seems you may have stopped making videos, but I thought I might try asking my question here in case you haven't as you seem quite knowledgeable and I'm having trouble finding an answer to this question: For an adult beginner with significant background in another instrument (piano), how long do you think it takes to be able to make a basically good sound on the cello and how dependent is this on the instrument itself? When I think about why I want to learn, it's centrally about the captivatingly rich sound. But how long does it take to be able to make that sound? Or even a modestly good version of it? When I think about the decades I spent practicing piano and the high quality piano I have in my home today, it's completely different. You press the key and out comes the sound, and the quality is largely simply dependent on the instrument. If I am going to invest hundreds of hours learning a new instrument, I want to have realistic expectations on what it takes to produce that sound, the ability to play a simple melody but beautifully. And how much the instrument itself will impact this. If you need an expensive instrument (like this $3K electric cello you are playing on) to get that kind of sound, I would be wasting my time unless I was willing to invest in something like that I would think. And if it takes a year or two playing just to get a basically pretty sound, I want to know upfront. If you have time to answer, I would so deeply appreciate it.
Hi Tyler! Thank you for the message! Haha yes... I am a full time performing cellist and it takes so much of my time that I don't get to make YT videos. Sorry :) Instagram gets more of my attention! I should definitely attempt some more YT tutorials.
Your questions is a very valid, but not simple to answer. A good sound depends mostly on a good bow arm technique. How well the bow is in contact with the string. And secondly on the quality of the instrument. Slow bow control - is an essential part of the learning process - is often neglected - and this is what give a good sound. Which can be attained from first few months even with simple pieces. I would actually suggest getting an acoustic cello for learning to produce a warm sound. It is only to be recreated on an electric instrument if you have the technique and sound in your ear.
Your background will surely assist with learning notes and rhythms etc. which will help you focus on your bow. If you focus on a good bow technique with your teacher then you can create a good sound from the beginning. Do not compromise the sound to get the notes or rhythm to work...
But patience will be your middle name! As the pieces get harder you will need better bow technique to have good sound on faster or tricker passages vs. long slow bows. A year or two would be a good gauge to keep developing bow contact technique to keep up with the repertoire as you develop.
I hope this makes sense? x
@@Dorette_Roos I feel so grateful that you would even reply to me! Much more that you would reply so thoroughly and with such detail. Thank you very much! So I'm hearing you say that the technique end of the sound quality can be attained in maybe a few months of practice? Or are you saying that it takes 1-2 years to get a basically good sound? If it only takes a few months to get a basically good sound with the right attention, practice, and instruction, then that's super exciting! If it's 1-2 years, that's more what I would have guessed and is a bit discouraging.
Also, you said that the instrument itself matters, but how much. Like is it the kind of thing where someone shouldn't expect to hear that beautiful cello sound unless they spend a few thousand dollars on their instrument? I just want to be realistic with my expectations if I'm going to invest in this way. Thank you again so much for answering! And if you don't have any more time, I totally understand.
@@tylersterling1786 I'm not Dorette, but...is there a violin shop near you where you could rent a cello for a few months? You could try out instruments at different price points, then evaluate your progress after a few months and see if you are happy with how quickly you are progressing. If you are, then many shops (at least where I live, not sure about elsewhere) will apply at least part of your rental fee towards the purchase of an instrument.
Hi Dorette, what acoustic amp did you use?
Hi Tio. I use this one! www.thomann.de/gb/dv_mark_ac_101h.htm
@@Dorette_Roos Great tone and sound! What eq settings do you use?
Is there a difference regarding projection?
Because it was given as suggestion, that beginners should learn on acoustic Cellos.
Thx in advanced
Yes I definitely agree beginners should learn on an acoustic instrument - as this requires slightly more work to get a good sound on different strings and projection of sound which is essential to learn.
@@Dorette_Roos Thanks for creating this video Dorette! I watched because I am strongly considering renting an electric cello to start learning, since I'm concerned about the sound for my neighbors. Once I get good enough, then I would "graduate" to an acoustic. Are you saying that it doesn't work like this? Thanks again.
@@Schneu369 No you can start on an electric cello. Just don't try to stand with the electric until much later - otherwise your technique may develop differently. As long as you're sitting down - the learning process and technique is the essentially the same. It will take some getting use to to change to an acoustic, but this is normal and count both ways.
@@Dorette_Roos Thank you so much for responding Dorette! I managed to find your other video comparing 5 electric cellos. AWESOME! Still trying to find a good place to rent one locally (Toronto, Canada), as I was most impressed with the sound from your NS Design cello over the Yamaha SVC. The only electric I can find to rent here is a Yamaha SVC 50, and I'm less impressed with that one from demos on YT. Research continues!!
@@Schneu369 Yes the NS design is an awesome instrument. This one however is very different from the others electric options and any acoustic cello - due to the physical differences (no left hand side shoulder and not leaning against your body.) So you can start on this one, but it will be quite challenging to switch to an acoustic cello from NS. I also did a short video on the physical differences of the NS - that might make this clearer.
Kevin Ousla from Pentatonix figured out how to play the Cello standing up if you watch their cover of Radioactive.
Yes I love standing with my electric cello! I always perform standing on the electric. I have a video on that if you want to check it out :) I don't stand with my acoustic.
@@Dorette_Roos Only Kevin Ousla from PTX does that.
@@RockStarOscarStern634 Haha yes - maybe looks cooler in the video :)
@@Dorette_Roos Listen to this:ua-cam.com/video/eh-72yBP7sw/v-deo.html of course the Cobra 6 String Fretted Cello is on a Special Strap to hold it. The Frets on the 6 String Cobra Cello (and Fret markers) make it easier to see where the notes are on this many strings (tuning is the same as a Normal Cello w/ a Low F on the Bass Side & a High E on the Treble Side). The frets on a Fretted Cobra Cello are filed down rather low to make it feel almost like a Normal Cello so you play on top of them, but it's super versatile so you can strum clean in tune chords as well. The Cobra Cellos from Wood Violins are way overpriced at the moment but adding frets & fret markers to a Cello will make playing in tune a snap.
@@Dorette_Roos Geared Tuners are the new standard for Electric Bowed and they work equally well on Acoustic Bowed instruments too because we no longer need fine tuners on that tailpiece, way more updated and user friendly. I'm afraid companies that make Violins, Violas, & Cellos will have to switch over to geared tuners cause they're far more superior and user friendly than friction pegs, plus they improve the sound and look by keeping them in tune.
Both are played the same way but the Electric Cello has a little bit of a different sound even though they have the same strings.
Absolutely. Each different electric cello I have played also sound a little bit different from one another.
@@Dorette_Roos You can also put Machine Head tuners on your Acoustic Cello so you can eliminate the fine tuners from the Tailpiece by getting a Wittner Cello tailpiece that dosen't have Fine Tuners. The lack of fine tuners on the Tailpiece livens up the Cello's sound by allowing the top to vibrate more freely, just like on a Baroque Cello. Those Guitar style machine head tuners for Cello have been improved to not damage the instrument when installed in place of the friction pegs because the screws are woodscrews.
Is it similar to the difference between keyboard and piano? If someone learns how to play the electric cello reasonably well, will they be a decent acoustic player? I’m after an electric for practicality reasons
Yes that is a good comparison. I usually suggest to start on acoustic and go to electric, for sound production reasons, but surely it can be done other way around too - as the technique is the same. There will be some minor adjustments between the two instruments, but you will be able to play either or.
@@Dorette_Roos thanks!
Could u tell me what was the piece at minute 3:45 please.
Hi Silvian! It is a study from the Lee Technique book. I will go find the book and give you more details :)
sound of the wooden cello is brighter and the electric one is thicker more bass-like
I said playing twice...I meant articulation🙈
Oh and Nessun Dorma should be slower and more indulgent! My apologies.
The Electric Cello is actually Semi-Hollow bodied to better emulate the sound of an Acoustic Cello.
Is there a dog in the background or someone snoring? ;p
Hahah yes my little dog usually sleeps (and snores!) while I record! Soundtrack of my life :)
@@Dorette_Roos lol I've noticed that from the previous videos as well.
Yamaha has actually designed their Electric Bowed stringed instruments to feel and play like their Acoustic counterparts to facilitate transitioning between the 2 and allowing you to use the same technique you already know.
If you get a Boss Wireless Amp system you can play Electric Cello on the street
True.
@@Dorette_Roos It's called the Boss Kantana Air, & it's super Adorable & Portable thanks to the Transmitter that sits in a Special holder Jack when it's not being used. Some day they might allow you to bring your SVC-210 & Boss Kantana Wireless Amp to Classical performances because Electric Cellos are so much easier to carry. A CodaBow Joule & Dark Kaplan Premium Rosin ought to help. Kaplan Premium Rosin is a Synthetic Rosin which is highly recommended because lots of people have allergies to Tree Sap, & the Dark Rosin is stickier which really helps w/ good bowing technique.
Electric cello sounds reverbed with cut high frequencies which is Not recomended to listen to,for long periods of time.The ears have to listen to the whole freq phasma.Listening to electric cello for long periods makes sence to have headache after that.But classic cello is natural,and natural sound always plays all the freqs which is good for the head.Imagine how you feel when you travel by buss for many hours.You will get headache because the buss cuts the high freqs from outside,which scientifically translates to different atmospheric pressure.Classic cello 4 ever!!!
You need to also mic your voice. I hear your playing fine, but your vocal is hard to understand. A little more volume on your vocal.
Hi Jeff - thank you for the feedback. Agree - will definitely do that for future. :)