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
Natural horse hair will sound much better than a bow with synthetic hair. If you end up with synthetic hair, a Cello repair shop can replace it with horse hair.
Case
A hard shell case made from carbon fibre or fibreglass protects the Cello when travelling or for storage.
Rosin
It is applied to the bow hairs to increase the friction, grip or bite effectiveness and allow proper sound production.
Endpin stops or straps
Keep the Cello from sliding if the endpin has no 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
They are 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 or in 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
They are used to change the sound of the Cello by reducing overtones. Practice mutes (made of metal) significantly reduce the instrument's volume (also referred to as "hotel mutes"). The most common mute is a rubber disc with two holes to fit the 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 predominantly used due to their simplicity. They can be taken off or put on quickly because they can be stored on the strings past the bridge.
Metronome
Timekeeping device to help you play music at the right tempo or go online, where several free sites 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 various devices or 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".