How to Accompany Others Using the Cello, Part I: How to Play Chords on the Cello

If you want to accompany a vocalist or even yourself (if you like to play and sing simultaneously), this video can help you get started!
I begin by explaining what chords are, how to build them, invert them, and then play them on your cello. I not only talk about your basic triads but I also demonstrate how to create 7th chords as well.
I hope this helps!
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List of commonly used seventh chords:
Maj 3rd + Min 3rd + Maj 3rd = Major seventh chord
Maj 3rd + Min 3rd + Min 3rd = Major-minor seventh chord (dominant seventh chord)
Min 3rd + Maj 3rd + Min 3rd = Minor seventh chord
Min 3rd + Min 3rd + Maj 3rd = Half-diminished seventh chord
Min 3rd + Min 3rd + Min 3rd = Fully-diminished seventh chord (often just called diminished seventh chord)
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PATREON - / sarahjoyrecordings
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[@annelowe2691]

you are wonderful at explaining these fundamentals. PLEASE, continue! BRAVO.

[@SteveRockstein2]

Thanks for this. Would love to see a video on strategies on accompanying a singer-songwriter who can not tell you what they want.

[@sarahjoyrecordings]

I think I understand your question, but to clarify: when the singer-songwriter cannot provide chords? OR When a singer-songwriter can provide chords but doesn’t know what they want in terms of rhythm, technique, and overall vibe?

[@SteveRockstein2]

@@sarahjoyrecordings thanks for getting back to me, Sara. I appreciate your channel. My question is your second option... I'm trying to accompany, on cello, an acoustic guitarist/singer. I want to provide a pad and some rhythmic fills to the folk/pop/ballads. We know the chords, I too play guitar (and compose on piano). But cello is new to me...and I am lost when not playing alone. Most of the material is in D, some E minor, some G. I'm still transitioning from E standard guitar tuning to C tuned in 5ths. I'm looking to ideas to start with. So far my ears haven't taken me there.

[@Carmen.hanh.do.66]

Thank you ❤

[@barriereid9244]

Going back some years to recommendations you made on reading material...Essential Elements for Strings arrived today and is truly inspirational and has taken me in a quantum leap forward. Many thanks Sarah. 🌹🌹🌹

[@sarahjoyrecordings]

(Just seeing this comment) Yay!! I am so very glad to hear that!

[@laemiel3326]

Your teaching skills are on another level, i studied in a brazilian conservatory, and if they had the didactics like yours, i would be in another level with my cello nowadays.

[@sarahjoyrecordings]

Well that is a huge compliment! I was very blessed to be able to study under exceptional teachers who showed how to break concepts down. I hope I can carry forward what they gave me. :)

[@janekientzy3718]

Awesome video, thank you! You are a really good teacher. I’ll keep checking back for part 2 🤘🏼😎

[@ismaeltenaud2683]

The video was so good and so clear to understand ! I want next part so much !

[@solma1]

Unreal how helpful this is

[@mikecrowe4585]

Excellent video! I had been wondering how to play three notes at the same time. The other mind blowing thing was that the 5th is silent! I would have never figured that out. Can't wait for your next installment!

[@sarahjoyrecordings]

Thank you!! Yes! I learned that in one of my music theory classes and it stuck with me. Thanks for watching :)

[@rustyperez5246]

Hi @sarahjoyrecordings Thanks so much for this video, and for the promise of others on this topic. I am really looking forward to the one on bowing and rhythm and texture techniques. I am a singer-songwriter and I want to be able to accompany myself on a bowed guitar. I'm also teaching myself to play the viola da gamba and so I'm looking for bowing and rhythm techniques. Things like, Rolling chords rhythmically Arpeggiating chords rhythmically and evenly. Just anything related to bowing and rhythm as it pertains to chords. Thanks so much! You're wonderful! :)

[@Ryan3Mitchell]

Wow! This was incredibly well presented! And at a great pace! Are you planning on filming part two and three because you totally should!!!

[@sarahjoyrecordings]

Yes I am!! I’ve been swamped with work but this is next on my to-do list. 😊

[@shajavv]

Yes, please! awsome work! Thank you. @@sarahjoyrecordings

[@derherristmeinhirte6795]

Great! I wait also on part II. Hope you find the time for that.

[@XexDesigns]

thank you for making this video! I have been playing cello for a while and the music theory always jumbles my brain. This is presented in a way that I can easily understand. I absolutely love the sound of chords on cello. thanks.

[@diegobuenovillafane869]

PERFECT explanation :) thanks!

[@reid-dallin]

thank you for this. you effectively simplified things. great use of the piano to demonstrate how the music theory translates to cello.

[@sarahjoyrecordings]

I’m glad it was helpful!

[@lydialane1473]

Thank you for adding this, Sarah! I requested this topic 🥰 please continue

[@sarahjoyrecordings]

Yes I know! ☺️ I was wondering what to teach next and went back to your email for ideas! Thank you for such good suggestions. 🤗

[@romanlightman9045]

@@sarahjoyrecordings 🙄🤔🥰

[@WinItReigns]

I use sample libraries to play all my cello parts. But I enjoyed your video so much! Your great to watch and learn from, plus you have a beautiful voice

[@dielindakatharina]

Awesoome!! Pleeeeeease also do Part 2 (bowing techniques) and 3 (voice leading)

[@lydialane1473]

Thank you Sarah! That was slow and in-depth. A great explanation

[@sarahjoyrecordings]

Happy to help! ☺️

[@lucaspullupaxi991]

We are wating for part 2 ❤

[@msbernardrn]

Great video. When can we look forward to part 2?

[@sarahjoyrecordings]

Hopefully within the next couple of months! It’s been a wild year. 😅

[@jimwrathall5323]

I enjoyed this lesson very much. At the end, you said to keep an eye out for Part 2. I have been sitting in front of the TV for seven months, waiting for part 2. How much longer wiil I have t wait?

[@sarahjoyrecordings]

I know, I’m so sorry!! It’s been a crazy seven months!!

[@jessie9397]

Do you have a chart for this? I’m a composer and not a cellist but I really want to write a cello part that uses chords, it would be easier for me to see a chart of the possible voices.

[@kevinmkraft]

This is great! Thanks!

[@mariagreverc.e.m.6555]

awesome stuff ,thanks from BCN

[@round-koala]

I've been trying to learn this exact topic of using cello as an accompaniment! May I ask what resources you've found helpful when you first ventured into this area?

[@sarahjoyrecordings]

I really just gathered info from my music theory classes in college and experimented on my instrument while singing along. A textbook that covered all of the basics of music theory is “The Musician’s Guide to Theory and Analysis” by Jane Piper Clendinning and Elizabeth West Marvin

[@spleenmonkey]

Very informative. Thanks!

[@sarahjoyrecordings]

Thanks for watching :)

[@flrn84791]

Nice video, but it's missing inversions, which are a very fun and practical way to play chords without changing position too much and provides more variety. Please make a video on those!

[@sarahjoyrecordings]

Yes! I gave a mini introduction to that idea using the keyboard but I should demonstrate how to do it on the cello. Until I get around to that, I’ll just type it out here. If you want first inversion, put finger 1 on the third, and then bar 2nd finger across the next two strings to the left. So for example, finger 1 on A, bar finger 2 across for F, and C. You have an F Major chord. If you want second inversion, put finger 1 on the fifth, 3rd finger one string over (2nd finger for minor), 4th finger one more string over. So for A Major you have finger 1 on E, finger 3 on C#, and finger 4 on A.

[@deja.vunathan]

Hi Sarah! First of all, thank you so much for this and all of your videos/posts! Having been a cellist for 33 years and counting (and a private teacher for 20 years), this video inspired me to take areas of my teaching and playing to the next level - your presentation is exemplary, both in terms of clarity and kindness with which you explain each process. When it comes to chords, I am curious to hear your take on this: when playing a chord, is there a "pattern" to when you think the bottom of the chord should be played before the beat so that the top lands on the beat, and when you think the bottom of the chord should come right with the beat, immediately followed by the "roll" to the top?

[@victoriayuart]

Thank you for sharing this Sarah! Learned a few new tips about how to play chords on Cello. Just another question. When playing the chord. For example, the last chord you have for the ending of Bach's cello suite no. 01 in G major. The G B G. Are you allowed to play them as two separate bow strokes. or do chords have to be played with one long bow stroke? Please let me know. Thank you again so much! Keep up the amazing work! I love your inspiring and motivating videos!

[@sarahjoyrecordings]

I’ve actually seen cellists play it all sorts of ways and I’m sure some teachers have very strong opinions on what is “right” and what is “wrong”, but I would encourage you to find as many videos/recordings as you can and decide for yourself which way expresses it closest to what you feel internally.

[@victoriayuart]

@@sarahjoyrecordings ok sounds good. Thank you again so much for the tip and advice Sarah! Looking forward to your next tutorial and learning more!

[@tobiaswieland4586]

Thank you Sarah, World IT be possible to get some weiten explanation of your vocal explanation? Since the Englisch language is not my motherlanguage . So i t is erster to unverstanden for my. Thank you so much!

[@romanlightman9045]

I L;💘VE YOU🌞

[@barriereid9244]

I have recently bought a copy of Duport's Etudes...No 1 does not start easy...any pointers please. 🍧🌹

[@Skizze37]

If there's somewhere we can donate to expedite the release of part 2, I'd be willing to lay money down!

[@sarahjoyrecordings]

I’m so sorry for the delay!! I recently had a baby and am terribly sleep-deprived. Once things get a little easier, I’ll film part 2. :)

[@Skizze37]

Congratulations on your new little musician! I'll keep my eyes peeled.

[@Skizze37]

Is that your recording of the strings on "God Only Knows"? :o

[@Skizze37]

Also don't leave us hanging for part 2!

[@sarahjoyrecordings]

Yes it is! :) And I’m so sorry about the delay! I recently had a baby. Once I’m able to get more sleep, I’ll get it filmed and posted.

[@Skizze37]

Just now seeing this! Merely a suggestion (more of a request) but if you were to post the audio of your arrangement in the interim, I'd be most grateful! Even more so if you find the time in the future to sing "God Only Knows" over your track. Or even a solo arrangement, much in the vein of this video! 🤩 Your voice is incredible and it would certainly lend itself well to one of Brian's (whom is my personal hero) most beautiful tracks. ☺️

[@anselmoguzman1378]

what a pretty girl 🥰❤🎶🎻

[@jeromeofnavarre6332]

So does Tom Play App help a new Cello Enthusiast....

[@anselmoguzman1378]

what a pretty girl 🥰❤🎶🎻