Best Cello Strings – Our Recommendations for 2023

Introduction

If you’re a cellist, you know that choosing the right cello strings can be a game-changer regarding sound quality and playability. However, with so many options on the market, deciding which strings to choose can be overwhelming. That’s why we’ve created this ultimate guide to finding the best cello strings for your playing level, from beginner to pro. In this guide, we’ll cover the basics of cello strings, introduce the best strings for each playing level, and offer tips on choosing the right strings for your needs. Whether you’re just starting or an advanced player looking for the best sound, this guide will help you find the perfect strings for your cello. If you have some specific questions about cello strings, check out our Cello Strings FAQ page.

A Note from Our Workshop

At Bass Bags, we have a huge stock of cello strings for sale, and our workshop regularly fits strings to customers’ cellos. As the author of this article, I have personally fitted and recommend the strings below. If you have questions about other strings, please call our workshop at 01332 840391 for a quick discussion. We prefer phone calls over emails, as there are many variables to consider when choosing strings.

Here are our recommendations for cello players, split into different ability levels. When we change our opinion, we’ll update this list accordingly. We’ve limited our recommendations to three per section and have listed our favourites; this doesn’t mean we don’t rate other strings; they are just our favourites.

Best Beginner Cello Strings

Choosing cello strings for a beginner cellist can be a bit daunting since there are so many different types and brands of strings available in the market. We would also class beginner strings as good student cello strings. However, there are a few factors that you should consider when choosing cello strings for a beginner:

1. Budget: The price of cello strings can vary widely, so it is important to determine your budget before making a purchase. As a beginner, you may not need the most expensive strings, but you also want to make sure you’re not getting strings that are so cheap that they won’t produce a good sound.
2. Playability: For beginners, having the easiest start is invaluable so you will want strings with a nice and easy bow response, in other words, the strings will start nice and easily under the cello bow with minimal effort.
3. Sound: The sound produced by the cello strings is an important consideration. Choosing strings that produce a warm and clear sound for a beginner cellist is recommended.
4. Durability: Since beginners are likely to play more frequently and may not be as careful with their instruments, choosing durable strings that can withstand frequent use is important.

Based on these factors, some good options for beginner cellists include:

Best Intermediate Cello Strings

An intermediate Cellist will be at or above ABRSM grade 4 standard and will be developing a sense of musical expression.

Choosing cello strings for an intermediate cellist will depend on their playing level, style, and personal preferences. Here are some factors to consider when selecting cello strings for an intermediate cellist:

1. Playing level: As an intermediate cellist, the player will have more experience and technical ability than a beginner. Therefore, they may require strings that offer more nuance and expressiveness, as well as greater projection and dynamic range.
2. Sound: The sound produced by the cello strings is an important consideration. An intermediate cellist should choose strings that have a rich, complex, nuanced sound with a wide dynamic range.
3. Response and playability: The intermediate cellist will have more demanding playing requirements; therefore, choosing strings that respond well to various bow strokes and techniques and are easy to play with is essential.

Based on these factors, some good options for intermediate cellists include:

Best Professional Cello Strings

This category can be a bit fluid as professional and famous cellists all have their goto strings that, in most cases, they have been using the same type for years. Many professionals will use strings we’ve listed as intermediate just because they always have, and they work well with their cello.

Choosing cello strings for a professional cellist will depend on their specific playing needs and personal preferences. Here are some factors to consider when selecting cello strings for a professional cellist:

1. Works with the Cello: Most importantly, strings that will work well with the cello all strings perform slightly differently on different cellos. This is down to trial and error and cannot be second-guessed. However, on a case-by-case basis, we can typically make an educated guess when a customer brings their cello to our workshop.
2. Playing style: Depending on the style of music the professional cellist plays, different types of strings may be more appropriate. For example, some strings are better suited for classical music, while others are more appropriate for chamber playing.
3. Sound: The sound produced by the cello strings is an important consideration. A professional cellist should choose strings that produce a rich and complex sound with a wide dynamic range and can produce various tone colours.
4. Response and playability: The professional cellist will have demanding playing requirements; therefore, choosing strings that respond well to various bow strokes and techniques and are easy to play with is essential.
5. Based on the criteria above, our experience and real-world popularity, here are our three recommendations.

Best Cello Strings Combinations

People may mix up sets of cello strings and fit strings from different brands together to create a unique and customized sound that fits their personal playing style and preferences. By experimenting with different combinations of strings, musicians can achieve a more balanced tone, improved playability, and increased projection. Additionally, some cellists may prefer the feel or tension of certain strings from one brand and pair them with strings from another brand to create the perfect set for their needs.

We have carefully selected three of our top-rated and most sought-after combination sets for cello.

Best Budget Cello Strings

If you are looking for budget or cheap cello strings, you will probably get the best result from the Beginner recommendations at the start of this article. That is if you want something that will work well at a discounted price. If you’re looking for the cheapest cello strings available, visit our cello strings for sale page and sort the products by cheapest first. Prices fluctuate constantly; this is the most up-to-date way of finding the cheapest cello strings.