The cello or violin?

Question:Well right now I play the flute and am learning the drums (they are so fun to hit may I add) but ever since I was literally a tiny little girl I've wanted to play a strings instrument, more specifically the violin or cello. its even on my list of things to do before i die, but i just never got around to it. so *dun da da dun* I've decided to learn how to play one of them. so my questions are *dun dun dun* which would should i learn and are they really hard to learn and are the notes way different to read or the same? liek trebel clef e, f, g, a, b, c... or some weird thing, or bass clef? and usually how expensive is it to get lessons, if you could add that in?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Well right now I play the flute and am learning the drums (they are so fun to hit may I add) but ever since I was literally a tiny little girl I've wanted to play a strings instrument, more specifically the violin or cello. its even on my list of things to do before i die, but i just never got around to it. so *dun da da dun* I've decided to learn how to play one of them. so my questions are *dun dun dun* which would should i learn and are they really hard to learn and are the notes way different to read or the same? liek trebel clef e, f, g, a, b, c... or some weird thing, or bass clef? and usually how expensive is it to get lessons, if you could add that in?

I'll throw my answer in here, since I've played both.

I started on violin, but found that I craved the deeper sound of the cello. I also (as somewhat of an individual) liked to say that I played cello, as so many people have at least tried violin. Cello is definitely not as common, and that appealed to me.

I would try to decide which sound appeals more to you. If you enjoy playing the flute, you would probably do well on violin. The clef is the same, and they are both higher register instruments.

If you like the low and mellow notes, cello is awesome. It can also be more of a challenge, the more advanced you get, because bass clef is the primary clef, but advanced music also contains tenor and treble clef. So, you can end up reading three clefs. (Alto clef is the clef violists read).

Speaking of viola, I'll throw in a "sales" pitch for it. If you have a hard time deciding between violin and cello, it might be for you. You get the portability of a violin, with the lower notes of a cello (although an octave higher). It has a lovely mid-range sound, and really can offer the best of both worlds. There are probably fewer (in my experience) violists than there are cellists or violinist. So, you can be really unique. The only downside of this option is that (I've found) the alto clef is kinda tough to read. However, I have known several violinists who have made the switch to viola, or who play viola on the side, so it still isn't impossible to transition from treble to alto clef.

Just try to decide what tone/register you love. I really enjoyed playing violin until I felt the deep resonance of the low C string on a cello.

Lessons prices are very comparable on both instruments (likely between $10-$40 per hour), but the prices for the instruments themselves varies dramatically. You could probably find a decent student (starter) violin for $300 - $500, where a student cello would probably start in the $700s. A viola, btw, is priced closer to the violin price.

You can always try renting one instrument, and switch after 6 months. And, you can always go to your local violin shop, and try the different instruments. They'll be happy to help you by bringing out the different instruments and they'll even give you basic pointers, so you can give each instrument a fair shot.

I've actually played all the stringed instruments (violin, viola, cello, string bass), and I don't think you can go wrong with any of them.

Good luck and happy deciding!

Girl Im with ya. I have ALWAYS wanted to learn to play the Cello. Its definitely on my "things to do before I die" list. I was sort of confused by which one I wanted to learn for a little while, even though I have always loved the deeper tone of the cello. I decided to get a couple of CD's that featured violin and cello solos and listened to both. I wanted to see which instrument struck my heart strings more....which of course was the Cello. I suggest the same. Listen to Classical Music for a while and see if one instrument strikes you more than the other one....

Also, I would tend to think that either one would be equally similar in difficulty levels to learn. I have no clue how much lessons cost, but I assume that its going to depend on the going rate in your state....Where I live I think its about 30 bucks a lesson(for an hourly session).

Look, it all depends where you live.

I suggest the violin. Depending on how big is it, it might screech. But it's more portable than a cello, and more passionate, you might argue. However, the cello is deeper.

But you'll find that cello teachers are not so frequent to come by as a violin teacher. If you want to play in an orchestra, probably cello gives you a better chance, since there are many violin players.

Notes are on different strings on the cello and violin. As in, strings, but reading is the same.

It's cheaper to buy a violin and the violin is more portable. There are also more uses for violin, I guess, in that there are more violins in orchestras than anything else.

For an assessment of lesson fees, see:

http://beststudentviolins.com/lessonfees...

It would most likely be a little easier for you to start with the violin, because you can [or I'm assuming you can] already read the notes. The cello uses a different clef.

No one here can tell you which instrument to choose.. It's all personal preference. I suggest renting either a violin and cello and buying a beginner book for each and decide after a while which instrument you enjoy the most.

HOWEVER I highly recommend, once you choose, to get a private teacher. With both instruments it's EXTREMELY easy to develop bad habits and even injure yourself in the long run [from holding the instrument a very awkward and unnatural way]. Bad habits on those two instruments are so difficult to stop. Lessons are usually 50-60 dollars to the hour or 25-30 dollars to the half hour, but it also depends on the teacher you get and where you live.