Help!! 7/8 vs 4/4

[@drmarx999]

Thanks, Billy, but don't forget about the wonderful 3/4 cellos out there. I switched from a 4/4 Ruggieri to a 3/4 "Statue" Montagnana (both Jay Haides) because of arthritis and a total hip replacement. Here's the really cool thing: my luthier switched out the 3/4 bridge (great for little fingers) to a full-size bridge (he did have to readjust the location of the sound post. It's the best of all possible worlds! I'd love to try a 7/8, but a really good one can be a real budget-buster!

[@carrieannkouri2151]

I"m 5' 2" and a 4/4 was a struggle for me. It felt like I was constantly fighting it to keep it between my legs comfortably, and any extensions were getting painful. I recently switched to a 7/8 - I love it! It's comfortable, as well as so much easier to play.

[@gabrieladalle8855]

Obrigada por compartilhar, eu tenho esse tamanho e ganhei um enorme 4/4, mas fico questionando se futuramente seria melhor trocar e seu comentário me deixou mais confiante

[@ELIAHAVAH]

I got myself a 3/4 when I got mine a few years ago; I had used 1/1 in middle school orchestra. Advantages- (1) Much more lightweight, for carrying; (2) much higher quality upper notes from E4 up, almost sounding viola-like; and (3), the best advantage IMO, I can perform WAY longer extensions, especially with my already long and spindly piano fingers, lmao - extensions my practice book apparently doesn't even assume are possible, since it has me doing position shifts when I literally don't even need to do them. The one major disadvantage is that the higher quality upper notes are balanced by poorer quality low notes. In fact, I literally can't even play forte on the C string; it causes the string to slap against the fingerboard. I have two videos on my channel currently, in which I have side-by-side subtracks of me doing both bass and alto parts of two songs, on my 3/4. (Yes, I play my cello in a really unusual horizontal position. Don't judge me, it's just what I like, hahahaha.) On the second one - the technically much better of the two - you can actually hear the C string slapping, on the two bass breakdowns, although it is partly masked by the percussion. But, you can also hear that nice, viola-like note quality on the upper notes, on the alto cello subtrack on screen right. I personally love my 3/4.

[@acamassia8077]

I absolutely love my 7/8 but it was tough to find. It's a beautiful instrument that has allowed me to feel comfortable playing!

[@trgmama6615]

I have a 7/8 and love it

[@chrysanthemum3087]

i love my 7/8

[@shaggygrrl]

Thank you for this video. Very informative! I wish I had seen this just two weeks before to help me make my choice. You really hit the nail when you mentioned trying a cello at home for comparison. With my short, stubby arms, I brought home a 3/4 for a test run, and when I brought it back, I found myself crying all the way to the luthiers'. Needless to say, it was mine 3 weeks later. :)

[@katerynarudenko71]

I also play 3/4, because I’m quite short 😅 when I just started, I had a 4/4 and it was a complete disaster, especially in wide positions. In my case only a switch to a smaller instrument worked

[@mismatmom]

Yeah! I just found a 7/8 cello i love. 50 when i started on a full size. Always bothered me that as i 5' 4" woman the same cello for a 6' man considered my best fit. On the 7/8 all is easier, first position, extensions, bowing, and to my surprise thumb position. I did choose to add a posture peg on the c string to allow for more flexibility in placement. I play for myself and in a community orchestra. Because this cello is an upgrade it actually sounds bigger than my full size. Thanks!

[@ra7e]

This is so very useful! Thanks 💙

[@janetbonneau6685]

Thanks Billy this is SO helpful!! I have a 4/4 but am still considering going to a 7/8.

[@CalebeMendes]

Hi Billy, great video!! Thank you very much for the valuable information. I have a question about how sounds are described by cellists. As a beginner, I still struggle to understand what cellists mean by a "warm sound", or "dark", "bright". Would it be possible to show us with audio examples what those terms means, and what to look for when describing a sound? Best regards.

[@MsCellobass]

I have a scala corta cello that was designed by Luthier in Atlanta GA. The cello is certainly good at sound projection and has a good tone. Im only 5ft in height but even so with this cello, the bottom of the peg box hits my shoulder where i would have to lengthen the end pin to avoid it. I also have a fullsize Luis and Clark carbon fiber cello and NEVER had a problem with playing It. So even though Im a shorty my fingers are not short. Im strongly considering trading in this shortscale neck cello to either a full size or a 7/8. The scala corta cello is really a full sized cello with a huge design flaw IMO. The designer made the neck of the cello a bit too short with the fingerboard almost in between the f holes. What should have been ideal is to have minimally shorten the neck and shortened the length of the finger board. I regret getting this cello but since it plays so well I can wait long enough to save some money to trade it in for a better one be it full size or a 7/8!

[@CraigBrittneyLouzon]

I have smaller hands & am having a tough time finding a 7/8 in my area. Could you please tell me which of the baseline/lower end 4/4's run smaller? Thank you so much!! :)

[@mr.monkei]

Thanks for the video! The link to the video you mentioned 6:12 is not showing up

[@toniesolomon]

I'm 5ft or 153cm in height so I don't know which should I pick

[@gabrieladalle8855]

meu deus obrigada por existir!

[@gateau.]

Would a montagnana or guadanigni be better for smaller hands, compared to stradivarius model? Does shorter body equate to smaller spacing between fingers on the fingerboard?

[@verak6058]

Montagnana or Stradivari refers to the body of the Cello, not the string length that should be the same on all 7/8 or 4/4. In Europe you can find Chinese Cellos with a longer than regular distance between nut and bridge which makes playing rather difficult. Mine has a 7mm longer distance than regular and I have difficulty reaching notes. I'm still trying to figure out whether I need a 7/8 or regular sized 4/4 Cello.