Beginner Cello: How to Tape Your Fingerboard

Learn how to tape your fingerboard in first position properly and quickly (with no need to buy any specialty tape). All you need is a tuner, some masking tape, an X-acto knife or pair of scissors, and a pencil and you're ready to go!
Here is a link to my short video on how to tune your cello (this is a vital step before actually applying any tape!): • How To Tune Your Cello...
Billy Tobenkin is a Los Angeles-based cellist who specializes in teaching adult learners. As a professional cellist who started playing the cello from scratch at 25, he is in a unique position to help others, like him, who found the cello later in life. He has developed strategies from his own musical journey to accelerate the learning process, and he is here to share them with you.
Please contact him at [e-mail] with any questions or comments! Or visit adultcello.com

[@bbeige54]

You are just what I needed! I’m 67 years old and have just rented my cello and have my first lesson next week. Your taping video has been the most simplest common sense approach. I appreciate it and will follow your other videos. Especially finding out you started studying the cello as an adult!!

[@adultcello]

Thank you so much! Congrats on starting your cello journey, it's a truly wonderful pursuit!

[@IslandTides]

painters (masking) tape is perfect for this. Your 'how to tune a cello' video is the best!

[@TheBereangirl]

This was a life saver! I was going to buy those special tapes, I don't need them now. Oy...that A string is a killer! I'm going to have to do what my son did to stretch out his fingers on his pitching hand...put a baseball between his fingers! Well, more like a golf or racket ball between my second and third fingers.😂

[@adultcello]

I'm so glad it helped! And please be careful if you decide to stretch between the 2nd and 3rd, they share a tendon. Check out tip #2 in my video, I talk about this exact issue: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h3zTaqGnh56rnK8

[@hollyhueston1502]

Do you try to hit the middle of the pencil line with the middle of the tape? or tape the edge to the line? I hope that question makes sense. Thanks! And I'm 58 and am beginning my adventure with the cello! Thank you for focusing on the adult students . . .

[@201019able]

Thank you 🎉

[@theedorbs]

You rule. Thanks!

[@adultcello]

My pleasure!

[@theedorbs]

@@adultcello if you are taking new students, I'd love to set up some lessons as soon as I get this cheap cello checked out at the shop!

[@adultcello]

@@theedorbs That would be great. Feel free to email me at [e-mail] and we can set it up! Thanks :)

[@theedorbs]

@@adultcello will do.

[@lisagergets4978]

I taped, but my fingers can't reach all three at a time. Is that necessary?

[@romanchavez4563]

What do you do if you can't mark because it is a rental

[@tasmeg3362]

What tuner do you use to tune your cello?

[@adultcello]

Here you go! www.tonalenergy.com/

[@jplawrence6892]

hey i totally off topic! but i think i heard the Rachmaninoff cello sonata in the intro for a few seconds? can you play this? it's really cool

[@adultcello]

Hi! That audio is actually taken from a recording I made of that movement of the Rachmaninoff sonata a few years ago. If you're interested, here's a link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aXimkpqGrc6jrKc Thanks for your comment!

[@toniesolomon]

Why do u tape a cello what's the purpose of it

[@adultcello]

Hi! Placing strips of tape on the fingerboard can be a helpful tool to train one's left hand position and the spacing between the fingers. Eventually the pieces of tape come off but the muscle memory is retained. This is especially useful for anyone learning to play who does not yet have a trained ear.

[@toniesolomon]

@@adultcello ah ok thank u how many positions are there?

[@adultcello]

@@toniesolomon Most people begin learning with the lower neck positions, of which there are 4 main positions.