Cello String Guide
Which strings are on your cello?
On smaller screens, scroll the table sideways. Match the coloured silk at the tailpiece and in the pegbox to find possible string makes and ranges. This chart covers 42 cello string ranges and variants, with patterns, colour names and notes to help you distinguish similar strings.
| Maker & range | A string | D string | G string | C string | Variants & notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D’AddarioHelicore | Tailpieceblue/yellow spiral Pegboxblack | Tailpieceblue/yellow spiral Pegboxyellow | Tailpieceblue/yellow spiral Pegboxred | Tailpieceblue/yellow spiral Pegboxpurple | Published manufacturer guidance. Light adds yellow; heavy adds orange. Alternate windings can have extra green or blue markings. Older cello charts may differ. |
| D’AddarioKaplan | Tailpiecewhite/black spiral Pegboxblack | Tailpiecewhite/black spiral Pegboxyellow | Tailpiecewhite/black spiral Pegboxred | Tailpiecewhite/black spiral Pegboxpurple | Published manufacturer guidance. Light adds yellow; heavy adds orange. Alternate windings can have extra green or blue markings. Older cello charts may differ. |
| D’AddarioPrelude | Tailpieceblue Pegboxblack | Tailpieceblue Pegboxyellow | Tailpieceblue Pegboxred | Tailpieceblue Pegboxpurple | Published manufacturer guidance. Light adds yellow; heavy adds orange. Alternate windings can have extra green or blue markings. Older cello charts may differ. |
| D’AddarioPrelude — older cello chart | Tailpiecered Pegboxblack | Tailpiecered Pegboxyellow | Tailpiecered Pegboxred | Tailpiecered Pegboxblack | Historical chart: red tailpiece and black C pegbox; differs from the published manufacturer guidance above. |
| D’AddarioPro-Arté | Tailpieceblue/red spiral Pegboxblack | Tailpieceblue/red spiral Pegboxyellow | Tailpieceblue/red spiral Pegboxred | Tailpieceblue/red spiral Pegboxpurple | Published manufacturer guidance. Light adds yellow; heavy adds orange. Alternate windings can have extra green or blue markings. Older cello charts may differ. |
| D’AddarioPro-Arté — older cello chart | Tailpieceblue/red spiral Pegboxblack | Tailpieceblue/red spiral Pegboxblue | Tailpieceblue/red spiral Pegboxred | Tailpieceblue/red spiral Pegboxlight violet | Historical chart lists blue D and light-violet C pegbox silk. Check packaging and production era. |
| JargarClassic — medium | Tailpiecelight blue Pegboxlight blue | Tailpiecelight blue Pegboxlight blue | Tailpiecelight blue Pegboxlight blue | Tailpiecelight blue Pegboxlight blue | Secondary reference lists light blue at both ends. Silk alone cannot establish pitch; check gauge and packaging. |
| LarsenAurora | Tailpieceyellow-orange Pegboxyellow-orange | Tailpiecered Pegboxyellow-orange | Tailpiecemagenta Pegboxyellow-orange | Tailpiecepurple Pegboxyellow-orange | Full-size medium; strong adds black. Fractional pegbox: 3/4 red, 1/2 magenta, 1/4 purple, 1/8 yellow-orange, 1/16 red. |
| LarsenIl Cannone — Direct & Focused | Tailpieceyellow/blue spiral Pegboxgreen + 1 black bands | Tailpieceyellow/blue spiral Pegboxgreen + 2 black bands | Tailpieceyellow/blue spiral Pegboxgreen + 3 black bands | Tailpieceyellow/blue spiral Pegboxgreen + 4 black bands | Count black bands A/D/G/C: 1/2/3/4. |
| LarsenIl Cannone — Warm & Broad | Tailpieceyellow/blue spiral Pegboxgreen + red band + 1 black bands | Tailpieceyellow/blue spiral Pegboxgreen + red band + 2 black bands | Tailpieceyellow/blue spiral Pegboxgreen + red band + 3 black bands | Tailpieceyellow/blue spiral Pegboxgreen + red band + 4 black bands | Red marker plus 1/2/3/4 black bands. |
| LarsenMagnacore | Tailpieceyellow/blue spiral Pegboxred + black band | Tailpieceyellow/blue spiral Pegboxred + black band | Tailpieceyellow/blue spiral Pegboxred + black band | Tailpieceyellow/blue spiral Pegboxred + black band | Medium shown. Strong yellow + black band. |
| LarsenMagnacore Arioso | Tailpieceyellow/blue spiral Pegboxblue + black band | Tailpieceyellow/blue spiral Pegboxblue + black band | Tailpieceyellow/blue spiral Pegboxblue + black band | Tailpieceyellow/blue spiral Pegboxblue + black band | Arioso pegbox silk is blue with black marking. |
| LarsenOriginal |
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