Cello | Definition, Music, & Facts | Britannica

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cello musical instrument Ask Anything Homework Help Also known as: German cello, German violoncello, violoncelle, violoncello(Show More) Written and fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Jan. 16, 2026 •History Britannica AI Ask Anything Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask Anything

cello, bass musical instrument of the violin group, with four strings, pitched C–G–D–A upward from two octaves below middle C. The cello, about 27.5 inches (70 cm) long (47 inches [119 cm] with the neck), has proportionally deeper ribs and a shorter neck than the violin.

Also called: violoncello (Show more) French: violoncelle (Show more) German: cello or violoncello (Show more) Key People: Ludwig van Beethoven Johann Sebastian Bach Joseph Haydn Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Johannes Brahms (Show more) Related Topics: end pin violoncello piccolo violin family (Show more) See all related content

The earliest cellos were developed during the 16th century and frequently were made with five strings. They served mainly to reinforce the bass line in ensembles. Only during the 17th and 18th centuries did the cello replace the bass viola da gamba as a solo instrument. During the 17th century the combination of cello and harpsichord for basso continuo parts became standard. Joseph Haydn, Mozart, and later composers gave increased prominence to the cello in instrumental ensembles. Notable works for the instrument include J.S. Bach’s six suites for unaccompanied cello; Beethoven’s five sonatas for cello and piano; the concertos of Édouard Lalo, Antonín Dvořák, Camille Saint-Saëns, Edward Elgar, and Samuel Barber; the sonatas of Zoltán Kodály and Claude Debussy; and the Bachianas brasileiras of Heitor Villa-Lobos, for eight cellos and soprano. Outstanding cellists of the 20th and 21st centuries include Pablo Casals, Mstislav Rostropovich, and Yo-Yo Ma, among others.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.