Mary.

RBB helped me pick out a cello yesterday. I've always liked the sound of the double bass, having had one for a while and having two double bass playing brothers. But melody wise the DB is limited and being tuned in fourths it is hard for an old violinist to get his head around. Whereas the cello's strings are a fifth apart and I can think of it like a big violin.

I have to learn where the notes fall on the bass clef. Here are the 'open'' strings.

I also launched into my favourite piece of all time, the Haydn D minor cello concerto. Because I have the 'tune' in my head it wasn't too difficult to get a reasonable approximation. The opening bars are essentially a G sol (violinish for playing an entire tune on the lower G string, popular amongst virtuosos) on the cello A string, just 'singing' my way up and down  the string!

I've named her Mary. Her she is having a rest on her bed.

Having a play with RBB today on the fiddle. I think Mary will help my fiddle technique too, having to practise big reaches.

Have a blessed day and don't sin.