Cellos come in several different sizes and it can be challenging to find the right-sized cello for you or your student. There are some general guidelines you can follow below, but the best way to find the right-sized cello is to try them out in a music shop.
How to Measure the Right Cello Size with a Cello
If you are able to try out different cello sizes in a music shop, you should follow the below steps to find a cello that fits you or your student.
- Sit with your knees at a 90-degree angle and rest the cello against your cello.
- The upper rim of the cello should rest on the sternum (breast bone)
- The lower bout (the c-shaped outline of the cello) corner should be touching the left knee.
- The neck of the cello should be a few inches away from the left shoulder.
- The C string (thickest string) peg should be near the left ear.
Recommend Cello Sizes by Age
A cello will have several sizes depending on the age of the person who will play it, are the following:
- 1/10: recommended for children who are 4-5 years old.
- 1/8: recommended for children who are 5-6.
- 1/4: recommended for children between 6-8.
- 1/2: recommended for kids with an age ranging from 8 to 14 years.
- 3/4: it is usually used by people over 14 and women.
- 4/4: experts recommend it to people over 16 years old.
