I`ve been playing for about three months and haven`t yet gotten used to tuning. Most of the strings are totally out of tune and it really doesn`t help that the pegs refuse to stay in place when I turn them, they just "slide" back - as if the strings were too tight. Hope you understand what I`m saying and that you could give me some sort of explanation, cause I`m not back in school until next week and I don`t have any cello lesson until next friday... I would really want to practice.

Normal problems.... Have you learned to tune by using harmonics? Very simple way of tuning. Just play on octave harmonic on the A string, and then play a harmonic over where an A would be played on the D string, with your first finger in fourth position. Those should sound to the same note, and therefore, you can tune your strings by making those two notes match perfectly. Now, this way of tuning is no as accurate as tuning to perfect fifths, but it`s a good way to start for beginners.

As far as your peg problem, try pushing them in as you turn them. If you can`t make them stay at all, then you`re going to need to take your cello to a repair man, and tell him what`s going on. They can expand your pegs to that they will stay better. My best advice is to get some fine tuners (if you don`t already have some), and put them on. This will help you not have to use the pegs. Usually I only move my pegs when I change strings, unless something really weird happens. Well, I hope this helps.


Titus

Yeah, my dad pointed that out to me - that the pegs are conical and should be pushed in. My problem solved in a jiffy.

I`ve got a cd to help me tune, but your tip will come in handy when I don`t have a cd-player around. Thanks.