Aitchison Mnatzaganian cello makers, restorers and dealers

A R T I C L E S
Set-up - an introduction
Guide to cello measurements
Review of A and D strings
Review of G and C strings
Survey of string design
Bridge design
Taming wolf notes
Tailpieces and tailcords
The challenge of trying cellos
Left hand comfort for cellists
Right hand comfort for cellists
What is a full-sized cello?
G.B. Guadagnini's cellos
Study of 1729 Guarneri cello
Bow testing techniques
The appeal of bows
Players test bows

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Wolf Notes and How to Tame Them

The most common haunt for the seriously inconvenient wolf note is 4^th position on the G string, somewhere between E and G. A more ferocious manifestation of this wolf note will appear at the same pitch high on the C string and a milder version may dog you in first position on the D string. If you’re really unlucky, a ghostly wolf can also appear in 4^th position on the A string.

Changing the set up of your instrument could be one way to resolve or reduce a wolf note. Generally, the harder the instrument is set up (perhaps with an inappropriately set sound post, a rigid bridge design, a high bridge or high tension strings) the more ‘wolfy’ it will become. Sensitive adjustments to the sound post or bridge can help to minimise a wolf note problem on some instruments without sacrificing the tone and response you are seeking from your cello.

An alternative solution is to fit a wolf note suppressor or resonator to your cello. It is well known that suppressing wolf notes can lead to a reduction in resonance across the whole range of the instrument. However, each cello and cellist is unique and the use of resonators or suppressors is a good solution for many cellists.

We are all familiar with the traditional wolf note suppressor – a rubber tube encircled with brass and tightened onto the string with a small screw – which is fitted to the G or C string between the bridge and tailpiece. To find the optimal position for the suppressor, bow the string between the bridge and suppressor and move the suppressor until the pitch of the string below the bridge matches the pitch of the original wolf note (or its harmonic).

A more subtle answer to wolf note elimination has recently arrived on the scene in the form of the New Harmony range of wolf note suppressors. These are little cylinders of solid brass which fit onto the string by means of a curved groove on one side. The absence of rubber in the design means that there is far less of a dampening effect on the string; the other major advantage is that the suppressors come in a range of weights, (3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 grammes) which allows you to select the lightest weight necessary to control the wolf note, thus minimising undesirable side-effects.

To fit the New Harmony suppressor, just loosen the G or C string and fit the suppressor onto the string between bridge and tailpiece and re-tune the string. Find the optimal position for the suppressor as described above for fitting traditional suppressors.

As an alternative to the on-string suppressor, you could try fitting a Resonator - a small, sprung mass - to your cello front. If you are lucky, you will find a position for the resonator (usually below the f hole on the bass side) which will dramatically reduce the wolf note. The resonator can be fixed to the outside of the cello with harmless putty but if you want to commit yourself long-term you can have the resonator glued to the inside of the cello front. The only drawback is that, once glued in, the resonator can only be removed when the front of your cello is taken off!

For some players, the cost of wolf note suppression is too high in terms of the loss of overall resonance and tone. Here are some tried and tested ways to accommodate wolf notes:

Experiment with different strings or use a lower tension version of your current strings.

Experiment with different bows; some bows will, as if by magic, play right through a wolf note as if it were not there.

Use less bow hair tension.

Bow more lightly on the wolf note.

Modify your vibrato to control wolf notes.

Squeeze the lower bouts with your knees to dampen the cello as you play a wolf note.

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