Cello Range – one of the most expansive ranges of any instrument

How many clefs does the cello use?

When writing for the full range of the cello, composers must use three different clefs. Here is a breakdown by clef:

The Bass Clef

The cello’s standard clef is the bass clef. Baroque composer J.S. Bach wrote 6 suites for unaccompanied cello. In Suites 1-5, Bach writes for the range that easily fits into the bass clef – from 2 octaves below middle C up to G above middle C. Bach’s 6th suite for unaccompanied cello was written for a 5-string cello known as the violoncello piccolo. The higher 5th string enabled the composer to extend the range of the music without forcing the cellist to play high up on the fingerboard.

Tenor Clef

As music moves up the cello register, the tenor clef if widely used to cover the range from A below middle C to C above middle C. A significant percentage of music for cello is entirely notated in the tenor clef; intermediate cellists must begin to learn the tenor clef as they progress to music that plays higher up the fingerboard. Check out the example below.