Cello Tailpieces

A cello tailpiece might look like a simple item at first. But, in reality, there is more to it than meets the eye. Although attaching the strings to the end of your instrument is the primary role of the tailpiece, the tailpiece can have a major impact on your instrument’s sound and playability.

The right type of tailpiece that has been installed properly will make an instrument more receptive and easier to play. It will emphasise the harmonics and overtones and make the instrument more resonant. This will give you a fuller and more vibrant sound. Conversely, if an instrument has an unpleasant sound, such as a bad wolf note, you might be able to minimise it by adjusting the tailpiece and its place. Read this article to find out more about tailpieces. Having a better understanding of them will help you make the right choices while shopping for them.

A brief guide to Cello Tailpieces

The cello is the second largest among stringed instruments. As it produces medium bass notes, it is an integral component of the symphony orchestra. The cello, consisting of four strings, emits tones that are one octave lower than the viola, which is smaller than the cello. These notes closely resemble the low-end human bass voice and are most frequently associated with classical music. But even then, the nature of the tailpiece can shift these notes a bit in either direction. That is why it is essential to use the right type of tailpiece on the cello.

Wood types and tonal qualities

The type of tailpiece wood can affect the tonal quality of the cello. Using Pernambuco wood for the tailpiece can turn a muddy sounding cello into a brighter and more precise sounding instrument. On the other hand, if you want to soften and warm up the sound of a hard-edged cello, you can use a dense ebony tailpiece. But if you also want to make the instrument lightweight, you can look for some less dense material like rosewood or boxwood. Therefore, when you are buying a tailpiece for your cello, you have to be really careful about the type of wood.

Weight of the tailpiece

While it is really nice to have a lighter wood for the tailpiece, it might not always give you the best sounding tones. To some extent, a lighter tailpiece can soften the sound of the cello and make it less harsh. However, there is a limit to this. If the tailpiece becomes too light, then the vibration patterns of the instrument can become out of control. This, in turn, can change the pitch of the instrument and completely alter the notes of the cello. Therefore, how will you decide what minimum weight the tailpiece should have? Well, there is no easy way to find out. Rather you will have to try out tailpieces of different weights and find out the right one.

Modern materials

Traditionally, tailpieces were made from wood and wood only. But the recent improvements in material science have made it possible to replace wood with synthetic materials. These days, you can find tailpieces made from a variety of different materials. These include materials like plastic, graphite, and aluminium. The benefit of these materials is that they are much more durable than wooden tailpieces. Just like the type of wood affects the tonal characteristics of the instrument, the difference in the flexibility and weight of the tailpiece does affect the tone.

Other aspects of a tailpiece

Apart from things like materials, weight, and strength of the tailpiece, another important factor that affects the performance of a cello is the shape and size of the tailpiece. If you don’t already know, not all tailpieces are of the same length. Also, the position of the string slots also varies between models. If the length between the bridge to the bottom of the instrument is longer, then you, in turn, need a longer tailpiece. And in a shorter tailpiece in smaller instruments, you should make sure that there is sufficient space between adjacent holes.