🎶 Start your 14-day free trial & unlock the full course today. Start Free Trial →
tonebase Cello Course

Arpeggios: from Beginner to Advanced

Taught by renowned cellist

tonebase Artists

In this course, we study cello arpeggios from begging to advanced. We learn about why arpeggios are so crucial to practice, as we deepen our knowledge of the geography of the fingerboard. We study modulating arpeggios and ear adaptations, and finally we apply our knowledge of arpeggios to complex repertoire pieces, such as masterworks from Brahms, Verdi, and others.

  • checkmark icon
    Category: 
    skills
  • checkmark icon
    Difficulty: 
    all-levels
  • checkmark icon
    Duration: 
    1
     hours 
     hour

Course Syllabus

Advanced Arpeggios and Repertoire Applications
In this lesson, Professor Greensmith gives us instruction into more complex ways of practicing cello arpeggios. We study excerpts from Beethoven, Brahms, and Verdi, and learn about the legendary left hand of Lynn Harrell. We also become acquainted with Professor Greensmith’s arpeggio practice routine.
Arpeggios and Cello Geography
In this lesson, Daniel Lelchuk takes us into the world of arpeggios. He explains that arpeggios are the best way to get to know the distances between intervals of the cello fingerboard. We also learn about the importance of slow practice to loosen up the left hand apparatus, as well as studying the different ways we can tune the intervals.
Modulating Arpeggios and Ear Adaptations
In this lesson, Daniel Lelchuk takes previously learned concepts about arpeggios and introduces arpeggio exercises from cellist-composers such as Bernhard Cossmann and Fred Sherry. We learn about Cossmann's arpeggio studies and how they can increase fluidity, as well as familiarity with the fingerboard. In the arpeggio studies of Fred Sherry, via Taffanel and Krenek, we learn about ear training, different fingerings, and bow patterns to further our comfort with arpeggios.
Introduction to Arpeggios
In this lesson, we get an introduction to cello arpeggios. The most important thing with arpeggios is to practice slowly position by position. Susan Moses like to use repeated notes to impart the feeling of each position. Beginning with two octave arpeggios on one string, go back and forth until you feel really comfortable in the position you’re playing in (make sure your fingernails are short enough for this!). We also learn that it’s important to practice the section of the arpeggio that is giving you problems and isolate it! When we free the left arm, our arpeggios will become freer!
Click here to download the course workbook PDF and see the full syllabus →
Access this course and hundreds more.

Click below to access hundreds of exclusive cello courses, available only on tonebase.

Unlock Course →
meet YOUR INSTRUCTOR

tonebase Artists

Courses from a collection of the world-renowned cellists on tonebase.

read full bio →
explore our courses

Join tonebase today to unlock this course plus 100s more!

Preview our curated selection of courses below. With lessons covering fundamentals, technical training, style and interpretation, you won't find a more thorough and enriching learning experience anywhere else.

preview
play-button-icon
Playing The Cello

with Richard Aaron

preview
play-button-icon
Suite No. 5 in C Minor, BWV 1011 (Bach)

with Mischa Maisky

preview
play-button-icon
The Ten Cello Commandments

with Amit Peled

preview
play-button-icon
Playing Without Tension

with Jan Vogler

preview
play-button-icon
Concerto in A Minor, Op. 129 (Schumann)

with Pablo Ferrández

preview
play-button-icon
How to Shift Cleanly

with Julian Schwarz

preview
play-button-icon
Suite No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1008 (Bach)

with Matt Haimovitz

preview
play-button-icon
The Art of the Bow

with Astrid Schween

preview
play-button-icon
The Ultimate Cello Warm-Up Routine

with Daniel Lelchuk

preview
play-button-icon
Variations On A Rococo Theme

with Johannes Moser

preview
play-button-icon
Essentials of Cello Playing

with Sara Sant’Ambrogio

preview
play-button-icon
Concerto No. 1 in C Major (Haydn)

with Santiago Cañón-Valencia

Real reviews from real customers.

Our members rate us at 4.8/5 stars. Here’s how a few of them transformed their cello skills since joining tonebase.

“Instead of scouring the internet for hours for performance tips and tricks, I now have access to a wealth of high-quality content from renowned artists at my fingertips!“

Omid S.

joined Sep. 2022

“Sincerely speaking, a few months with tonebase help me solve many issues I have had with my fingers for years if not decades.“

Giao P.

joined Mar. 2021

“We [in the community] all give each other wonderful, positive feedback. The teachers also give incredibly detailed ways that we can improve our playing."

Eric P.

joined Apr. 2020

Ready to begin learning?

Start your 14-day free trial today!

All plans include:
  • checkmark icon
    Unlimited access for 14-day free trial
  • checkmark icon
    Full 90-day satisfaction guarantee
  • checkmark icon
    Access to 100s of video lessons & courses
  • checkmark icon
    Structured & guided course content
  • checkmark icon
    Free PDF workbooks & annotated scores
  • checkmark icon
    Feedback from our active Community
  • checkmark icon
    Bonus: The Ultimate Practice Toolkit

Monthly

$
49.95
/mo
Billed monthly
Give tonebase a try with our Monthly plan. Cancel anytime or upgrade your plan later when you find it’s a good fit.
Select Monthly →
Best Value - save 50%

Yearly

$
24.95
/mo
Billed at $299 yearly
Make music your priority for the next 365 days and save BIG with our most popular plan. You’ll be amazed what a year with tonebase can do…
Select Yearly →

Lifetime

$
695
/once
Billed just once
Ready to invest in your future education? Get our Lifetime plan and gain full, unlimited access to tonebase for life!
Select Lifetime →