The cello’s range in notes and hertz
The bottom is the open C string. The top is reached in thumb position and with harmonics, and most cello writing stays well under A6; cello parts switch to tenor and treble clef as they climb.
Written and sounding pitch
The cello reads at concert pitch in bass clef: a written note sounds as written, so the range above is both the sound and the page.
Instruments with a similar range
The instruments whose normal range shares the most notes with the cello’s:
- Harp · C2–A6 58 notes shared
- Marimba · C2–C7 58 notes shared
- Piano · A0–C8 58 notes shared
- 7-string guitar · B1–C♯6 50 notes shared
- 8-string guitar · F♯1–C♯6 50 notes shared
- Guzheng · D2–D6 49 notes shared
Tune it, play it
- Cello tuner — tune by microphone, with the cello’s own target notes.
- Play a cello online — the same range, playable in your browser.
Songs that fit the cello
36 songs from our public-domain library fit inside the cello’s range, each written out in the notation cello players read:
- Hot Cross Buns
- Lightly Row
- Going Home (New World Largo)
- Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
- Happy Birthday
- Ode to Joy
- Mary Had a Little Lamb
- Row, Row, Row Your Boat
- Jingle Bells
- We Wish You a Merry Christmas
- Yankee Doodle
- Silent Night
Frequently asked questions
What is the range of a cello?
The cello’s full range runs from C2 to A6 — 65.41 to 1760.0 Hz, about 4.8 octaves.
What is the lowest note on a cello?
C2 (65.41 Hz).
What is the highest note on a cello?
A6 (1760.0 Hz).