Thank you for visiting wolfterminator.com, a website which explores the wolf note, a common problem many cello and bass players experience. In the following pages, we'll examine the reasons behind the occurrence of the wolf note on the cello and double bass, delve a bit into the physics of the wolf note, and look into some of the past and current attempts to control and suppress it.  And, of course, we'll present our solution - the Wolf Terminator.

The Wolf Note on this cello
is at 177 hz (slightly above F)

Most cellists are familiar with the wolf note, but if you are a beginning player or are new to the cello world, the following description and this audio clip will help you to understand the problem.
The cello wolf note is a stuttering or warbling/pulsing note often found on the cello G and C string in the range from D3 to G3. The wolf is occasionally found on the D string as well. Most occurrences of the wolf note are in the range from E to F# and, in actual fact, rarely occur exactly on a specific note.  Because of the differences in the physical structure and tuning of the cello, compared to the violin and viola, the occurrence of the wolf note is particularly troublesome in this instrument. 

Significant wolf note problems also occur on the double bass, together with some unique control issues and solutions. A complete discussion, with solutions, is presented in the section: The Wolf Terminator for Bass.

It may seem paradoxical, but expensive and well made cellos are far more likely to have a wolf note than an inexpensive student instrument. Experienced cellists control - with varying degrees of success - the wolf note, through techniques such as vibrato or bow pressure, pressure on the body of the cello, or by playing  the affected note on another string. The wolf note, if not too severe, can be controlled or minimized  through the use of a "conventional" wolf eliminator. All too often, however, wolf notes persist and defy all attempts to control them. In addition, the standard wolf eliminators are inherently unstable (as will be explained later) and the wolf note often returns when the seasons change, or when strings or setup adjustments are changed. Some great sounding cellos have really bad wolfs  and cellists resign themselves to "living with it".

We have a device for controlling the wolf note - a wolf eliminator called the WOLF TERMINATOR, which we believe is superior to others you may have tried. Through the use of video clips, photos, and diagrams, we'll demonstrate both the effectiveness of the device and the ease with which it can be adjusted by the player.

If you just don't feel like reading and want to hear the wolf being eliminated, go directly to the two video clips at the bottom of the WOLF TERMINATOR FOR CELLO page. After hearing and seeing the "proof" that it works, browse the rest of the site at your leisure. The chances are good that you will learn more information about wolf notes than you ever knew existed!


For those who have only taken a quick glance, you may not have noticed that this website specifically addresses the correction of tone quality issues (the wolf note) inherent in the cello and double bass. This is done through the use of a wolf eliminator device which we call the WOLF TERMINATOR. It should be obvious from reading this home page (but we'll say it anyway) that the WOLF TERMINATOR has nothing to do with harming or terminating wolves (the animal)!