Best
Gut Core String
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Overall: Great cello strings for advanced players who are experimenting with tone
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Best Feature: The gut core on Pirastro Passione G is wound with chrome
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TedScore™: 8/10
Best
Synthetic Core String
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Overall: Overall value for money, easy to play, and a sweet, characterful sound
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Best Feature: These strings have a nylon (perlon) core and are wound with chrome.
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TedScore™: 6/10
Best
Steel Core String
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Overall: Advanced musicians, adding brilliance to a mellow sounding instrument
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Best Feature: Resilient, brilliant sound and dynamic range, quick response to the bow
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TedScore™: 8/10
Choosing the best cello strings can be confusing, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Finding the perfect strings can elevate your cello playing, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player.
Imagine playing your favorite piece smoothly with the rich, full sound you’ve always wanted. The right strings can genuinely enhance your cello’s tone.
In this article, we’ll discuss top brands, materials, and combinations to find what will work best for your instrument. I’ve also included a few strings I like and the Evah Pirazzi strings I use daily.
Keep reading, and let’s discover those perfect strings together!
The Top 5 Cello Strings Today
Evah Pirazzi Strings
For an advanced or professional cellist who wants to add brightness and power to their instrument
DESIGNED FOR: Advanced musicians, adding brilliance to a mellow sounding instrument
FEATURES: Resilient, brilliant sound and dynamic range, quick response to the bow
OTHER INFO: Steel core. Available in soft, medium and strong gauge
Evah Pirazzi Strings
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Brilliant Sound, Fast response to bow, Durable
- They can be too strident for an already bright instrument
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Larsen Original Cello Strings
Larsen Strings are a hallmark of high quality strings sound. They are very popular amongst advanced students and professionals because they are long-lasting and durable. They also have a rich, warm, and powerful sound with good responsiveness.
DESIGNED FOR: An upgrade who want durable and hard-wearing strings
FEATURES: Good dynamic range, rich and warm sound, hard wearing
OTHER INFO: Available in light, medium, and heavy gauges.
Larsen Original Cello Strings
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Warm, rich, well-rounded sound. Durable.
- Not as bright in sound as some other brands.
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Thomastik Dominant Strings
Dominant strings were some of the first synthetic strings to be developed by the Viennese brand Thomastik. They are well-balanced, easy to play and have a sweet, well-rounded sound.
DESIGNED FOR: Beginners and intermediate students
FEATURES: These strings have a nylon (perlon) core and are wound with chrome.
OTHER INFO: Available in medium and heavy gauge. The Thomastik brand also produces a wide range of synthetic and steel core strings.
Thomastik Dominant Strings
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Affordability, durability, easy to play, good response, sweet sounding, stable tuning.
- Not as bright or loud as some steel core brands, not as rich and complex a sound as gut core strings.
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Pirastro Passione Cello Strings
Pirastro is one of the main producers of wound gut core strings. Their brand has a reputation for pairing the beauty of gut strings with reliability and responsiveness. The Passione range is a great place to start for players who would like to experiment with a gut core string.
DESIGNED FOR: Cellists who are looking to expand their tonal range and expressive quality.
FEATURES: The gut core on Pirastro Passione G is wound with chrome, and the C string is wound with tungsten.
OTHER INFO: The A and D strings in this range are steel core and are designed to compliment the gut core lower strings.
Pirastro Passione Cello Strings
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Beautiful, smooth and expressive sound. Easy response to bow pressure allows for articulation and projection.
- Require frequent tuning, not very stable in humid conditions or changes of temperature.
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
D'addario Prelude Strings
A great value set for the first stages of playing
DESIGNED FOR: Low budget, durable, stable sound quality
FEATURES: Available in varying sizes for smaller instruments (full, 1/2 size, 1/4 size, 1/8th size)
OTHER INFO: Solid steel core
D'addario Prelude Strings
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Great value, durable
- Not very complex sound
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Different Types of Cello Strings
Gut Core Strings
The earliest strings to be used historically were gut strings. They were made of sheep or cow intestines which were dried, washed, and wound. Gut strings can be plain gut, or wound in a material such as aluminum, silver, or gold which makes them gut core.
Nowadays gut strings are mostly used on historical instruments; however, some cellists still enjoy using gut core cello strings because of their rich and complex tone.
Gut strings tend to be lower tension than other strings, and they are very responsive to how you use your bow. They are difficult to play on but rewarding and expressive in tone.
They are less stable than synthetic cello strings or steel cello strings and require frequent tuning. They are particularly sensitive to changes in air temperature or humidity, and are unreliable under bright stage lights or the outdoors!
If you are an advanced or professional cellist and are looking to explore new tone colors and articulation, and expand the expressive range on your instrument, then gut core strings are a good choice.
However, if you are a beginner or intermediate player then synthetic strings or steel cello strings would be a better choice as they would be easier to tune and produce more consistent high quality string sound If you tend to play outdoors or under bright stage lights, then synthetic strings or steel core cello strings would be more reliable.
Synthetic Core Strings
Synthetic cello strings were developed in the late 20th century. They widely became popular with classical cellists because they have some of the complexity in tone of gut strings, but with better tuning stability and a fast, responsive tone.
Synthetic cello strings were first developed with a steel core made of nylon (a material called perlon). More recently strings have been invented that combine a number of synthetic materials which produce an even more complex sound.
While they don’t have quite as richer sound and complex a tonal sound quality as gut, these synthetic strings have very interesting and rich tonal qualities and they are an excellent middle choice for an intermediate or advanced player who is looking to develop their expressive range but with some ease of playing and tuning stability.
Steel Core Strings
Steel core cello strings were developed in the 20th century. They quickly became popular as they were economical to produce, loud, and stable.
Steel strings tend to be very bright and resonant. They are the most economical strings to purchase which makes them an excellent choice for beginners. They are also extremely durable and hard-wearing.
Their volume and bright sound also makes them popular amongst folk, country and jazz players and for electric cellos. They can also add projection and brilliance to a mellow sound instrument.
Choosing the Right Cello Strings
The best strings for cello offer excellent tonal quality, responsiveness, and durability, making them a favorite choice among professional cellists worldwide.
Read on to discover how to choose the right cello strings for you!
String Gauge
Most popular cello string brands will come in three available cello string gauges: light, medium gauge, and heavy gauge. A heavy gauge will produce a dark, loud, and richer sound, but with a slow response to the bow. A lighter gauge will have a bright tone and will be quieter in volume, with a fast response to the bow.
A good rule of thumb is to start with a medium gauge and to only change to a lighter or heavier string gauge if you feel it is necessary for your instrument.
Ease of Use
For beginners and intermediate players, ease of use is an important factor when choosing new cello strings. To this end we would recommend either steel strings or core cello strings or synthetic cello strings for beginners or intermediate players due to their ease of use, responsiveness, stability and durability.
Sound Quality
For the advanced cellist, good sound quality is a very important factor when choosing new cello strings. The most tonally complex strings are gut core strings, and these can be a very rewarding choice for an advanced cellist who is looking to find a range of new colours and to expand the expressive range in their sound.
Brand
There are many brands of cello string to choose from. Confusingly, each brand of best cello strings also has a range of string types to choose from! Some of the main cello string brands are Pirastro, Larsen, Jargar and Thomastik-Infeld.
Popular Cello String Combinations
The best cello string combinations offer a harmonious blend of tone and playability.
Some cellists like to mix a combination of string sets, types, and brands. The most common combination is to have A and D strings from one set combined with a G and C string from another. This might be a good solution if your stringed instrument is brighter on one end of its range.
Some string sets will also use a different material for the different cello strings within their set. For example, the Pirastro Passione set combines synthetic core A and D strings with gut core G and C strings.
This allows for stability of pitch but with the rich gut strings sound on the lower strings.
Complementary Cello Accessories
Cello Case
A good cello case can make a huge difference to the day to day life of a cellist! The cello is a bulky item and having a cello case which is easy to carry around is essential.
Many cases are designed to be as lightweight as possible, whilst keeping your valuable instrument safe and protected. Accessories such as wheels and a good backpack harness can help to make traveling with your instrument easier and more comfortable.
COMES WITH: 1 Padded Bag
FEATURES:
-25mm tricot interior padding
-2 wheels
-Tearproof and water protected
Gewa Cello Gig Bag
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Trusted international brand
- Protects cello from scratches and some knocks
- Won’t protect cello from a major knock or fall
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Cello Rosin
Rosin, also known as colophony, is made from tree sap which has been heated and then poured into a mold to set. Without any rosin, the hair on your bow would not have any friction, and the bow would not create a sound!
There are many different rosin brands to choose from, but if you are a beginner, a popular brand such as Hidersine is a good place to start. Make sure that you use rosin all the way along the bow hair from the heel to the tip!
COMES WITH: A premium case
FEATURES:
Uses the original recipe handed down from Ladislav Kaplan
- Low dust
D'Addario Kaplan
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Amazing case
- Low Dust
- Is a pleasure to use
- None!
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Horsehair Bow
Often you will buy an instrument and bow together as a single outfit; however, sometimes the instrument might be sold separately, so you’ll need to buy a horsehair bow to match your instrument.
Make sure that the size matches correctly (a full-size bow for a full-size instrument, half size bow for a half size cello, etc). If it is in good condition, it should have a clean and full amount of horsehair, and be easy to tighten and slacken using the screw thread on the frog of the bow.
COMES WITH: octagonal shape with a half-mounted frog
FEATURES: Traditional Winding
Hidersine Carbon Fibre Violin Bow
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Lightweight and durable
- Stable in different temperatures
- Traditional winding
- Quite expensive
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Best Cello Strings
Summary
Choosing a set of the best cello strings can be challenging since there is so much choice on the market. When choosing, you should consider what stage of playing you are at, how much you play, and what you want to improve in your instrument’s sound.
The strings that you choose will play a big role in what kind of sound you make on your instrument and how much volume you can produce.
If you are a beginner, a simple and cost-effective solution would be to choose a budget-friendly steel core cello string or synthetic string set. After this, an intermediate or advanced player could upgrade to some of the classic cello strings reviewed here.
If you are an advanced player and your instrument needs some extra brilliance, steel strings or core string set can help with brightness and projection.
Conversely, if you want to expand the tonal range, warmth, and complexity, then gut strings could be appropriate for your instrument.
okay so i’ve got this old cello from my grandpa, and it’s been sitting in the attic forever. i was thinking, after reading about those synthetic and steel strings, can i mix them? like put a steel one for the A string and synthetic for the rest? would that make my cello sound super unique or just super weird? wanna make my cello punk rock. is that even a thing? lol
A thoroughly comprehensive guide, Ellen . It’s refreshing to see such a detailed exploration of cello strings, as they’re often overlooked by beginners. Your section on the blend of string types will be particularly useful to my students.
great article! didn’t know there were so many types of cello strings. might give the steel core a try for that bright sound.
Hey Ellen Porter, just got around to reading the piece on cello strings, and wow, didn’t realize how crucial string type was for sound quality. I’ve been using some random strings I picked up online without much thought. Thinking it might be time for an upgrade. The Evah Pirazzi strings caught my eye, but they’re a bit pricy. In your experience, are they worth the extra cash for an amateur like myself? Or should I start somewhere more…economic but still good?
Thanks for asking this, been wondering the same. Those Evah Pirazzi do sound tempting.
In my experience, Evah Pirazzi strings are definitely top-tier and can bring out a richer sound in your cello. But if you’re watching your budget, maybe start with Thomastik Dominant. They’re solid for their price.