Cellos

• Type: Muggle Musical Instrument
• Known Users: The Weird Sisters
• Notable Performers: Merton Graves (Pottermore)

A cello is a bowed, stringed musical instrument, known in the Muggle world as part of the violin family. It is a large instrument, typically held between the performer's knees, with its lower end resting on the floor via a metal pin. It produces a deep, rich tone and is played by drawing a bow across its four strings or by plucking them. Within the wizarding world, it appears identical to its Muggle counterpart.

Cellos are known to be used as musical instruments within the wizarding community, most notably by the popular band, The Weird Sisters. Their inclusion in a mainstream wizarding rock band demonstrates the integration of traditionally classical or Muggle instruments into contemporary magical culture. The most significant appearance of cellos occurs during the Yule Ball held at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in 1994. When The Weird Sisters performed for the students and guests, their lineup included three cellos. Harry Potter observed the band on stage and noted: “…And there were cellos. Three of them, played by wizards who were sitting on stools and looked as though they were in a great deal of pain.” This highlights their unusual but established place in the band's unique sound.

• The official Wizarding World website (formerly Pottermore) names one of the cellists for The Weird Sisters as Merton Graves. The novels state the band had three cellists, but the other two remain unnamed. (Pottermore)
• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the on-screen depiction of The Weird Sisters features a more conventional modern rock band line-up, and the three cellos described in the book are not present on stage. (film)