Cello accessories
The essential accessories for the cello are as follows. It is possible that some or all of these will be included when you purchase a cello.
Bow
Real horse hair will sound much better than a bow with synthetic hair. If you do end up with synthetic hair, a cello repair shop can replace with horse hair.
Case
A hard shell case made from carbon fibre or fibre glass protects the cello when travelling or for storage.
Rosin
Is applied to the bow hairs to increase the effectiveness of the friction, grip or bite, and allow proper sound production.
Endpin stops or straps
Keep the cello from sliding if the end pin does not have a rubber piece on the end (used on wood floors). Many Cellists often use a square or rectangle of carpet that can be secured under the front two legs of the chair as an endpin stop. This is however less likely to be seen in a professional arena and more used in rehearsal or in private.
Humidifier
Used to control and stabilize the humidity around and inside the cello and are popular with travelling cellists. Often, these are placed inside the cello itself or inside the case. Some players will not use humidifiers inside their cellos because they have the potential to drip, which may cause damage to the cello.
Music stand
Holds your sheet music at the desired height
Mute
Used to change the sound of the cello by reducing overtones. Practice mutes (made of metal) significantly reduce the instrument's volume (they are also referred to as "hotel mutes"). The most common mute is a rubber disc with two holes to fit the two middle strings. It sits just after the bridge and has a flap that can be placed over the top of the bridge to mute the vibrations travelling down it to the sound post inside the cello. These are especially used due to their simplicity and can be taken off or put on very quickly because they can be stored on the strings past the bridge.
Metronome
Time keeping device to help you play music at the right tempo or simply go online where there are several free sites that provide this functionality.
Tuner
If you don’t have a piano available you can use this to help to tune your cello. Alternatively, you can purchase a variety of devices or simply go online to source the correct pitch for your violin strings.
Wolf tone eliminators
Sometimes placed on cello strings between the tailpiece and the bridge to eliminate acoustic anomalies known as wolf tones or "wolfs".