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

Intonation: A Comprehensive Guide

Taught by renowned cellist

tonebase Artists

This course goes into great depth in what is perhaps the most complex and difficult subject for a string player: that of intonation. We begin with lessons about how to use a tuner. We then explore the use of drones, overtones, finding tonal freedom, and purity of tone. We learn how deeply intertwined sound and intonation are. Next we look at the role 4ths and 5ths play in tuning, as we begin to explore repertoire application. Finally, we learn to think harmonically as we train our ear in more advanced ways.

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

Course Syllabus

The Use of Drones

In this lesson, Astrid Schween gives us important concerts when it comes to practicing intonation. We begin with using our open strings and octaves related to the open strings to feel the pitch and resonance of the cello. We then move on to using a drone and continue with scales, and Schween also speaks about using the drone to help us with expressive melodies. When we practice intonation with a drone, we add stability and reliability to our intonation, and Schween recommends this slow, quiet work daily.

Thinking Harmonically and Advanced Intonation Work

In this lesson, we learn advanced ways of practicing intonation. Professor Sherry places an emphasis on thinking harmonically and technically about intonation while learning to trust one's ear at the same time. We also learn the importance of listening to intonation in context, practicing passages with one finger only, and the intonation methods of the great violinist Joseph Silverstein.

4ths, 5ths, and Repertoire Application

In this lesson, Jan Vogler stresses that playing in tune is not simply a matter of “right” or “wrong.” There are many different kinds of intonation, such as harmonic, melodic, and tempered, and everything sounds and fits together differently. It’s important to note that knowing how and why we hit a certain note over and over is where the perfection in cello playing comes from: the combination of intent and consistency.

Using a Tuner

In this lesson, we go in depth on the uses of a tuner. Metcalf believes strongly that when we practice slowly with the drone of a single pitch, we can effectively train both our ear and our left hand. Tuners, as she explains, are especially crucial when dealing with music that does not incorporate many open strings in the key-signature (such as E-flat major) as we do not have the reference points that we do with an "open" key such as G major.

Overtones, Tonal Freedom, and Purity of Intonation

In this lesson, we learn some objective rules about intonation, including how to tune our cellos. Professor Clein introduces us to her number system for hearing intonation and tuning to our open strings. Clein also spends some time showing how to create a sense of "chromatic pain" in particularly expressive repertoire. We also learn the importance of creating overtones, resonance, strong fingers, and a pure tone to hear intonation clearly.

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

See what fellow cellists are saying.

Our members rate us at 4.8/5 stars. Here’s how a few of them transformed their piano 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

$
895
/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 →