you may think the answer is obvious but in the magical world of ponies. Anything is questionable in Anon's eyes if he cares enough. But why the instruments?
short story on a topic I argued with myself about for a while and during writing I have also been shocked at the outcome.
WARNING: this story features some amounts of nerd music/instrument biology talk. probably not funny (I really want to put the comedy tag but its not like I'm pulling a bunch of jokes in this and I think I'm the only one finding it funny)
Chapters (1)
I am sorry, but I must comment. Not about your story, but subject.
I am a classical pianist, so I am intimately familiar with Octavia's instrument. It is indeed a cello. Your illustration displays the unique characteristic of both Contra-bass and cello, but the proof is in what she is using for a bow. A straight bow is used with all three of the violin family members: Violin, viola, and cello. The contra-bass is the extant vestige of the older sting family known as viols. Viols had their heyday during the fifteen hundreds, before the violin was actually invented. All viols used a curved bow, which is the type used with playing a contra-bass.
Another difference? That is tuning. Like all of the violin family, the cello is tuned in fifths. The contra-bass is tuned in fourths, just as all viols were tuned in.
I'd give anything to hear an earth pony play a cello...
Ah, this old debate.
Brings me back to yesteryear...
Fun story.
This Anon captures a bit of what it was like during Season One and the Golden Summer:
the absolute madness of dissecting episodes into screenshots and analyzing millimeters at a time.
Well done, I know you worried about this going over non-musician's heads but I think you're doing okay. This was fun. n_n