Also if you're completely new you might not know which ADGC to tune to as occasionally people seem to tune to the one above (risking a string snap). It's A3, D3, G2, C2. If you're a whole octave off you likely need to tune with your pegs then.
New cellists tuning: In April I received my Cello back from my luthier and I am delighted with my perfection pegs that were put on my old cello. The pegs also look great I am about 6 months playing cello. Now I am not constantly breaking strings and tuning my cello. I live in a beach town with high humidity and have actually seen my strings totally unwind following a change in the weather. I still tune but now with ease and less often (usually one string). To me tuning was hard and necessary as I love play along cello I had a little violin as a kid and am new to cello. The other day I was doing heavy vibrato and my doc thinks I pinched a nerve. I now have to take it easy on free weights and cello and he gave me a mild muscle relaxer. As a kid (played a little violin) I once got my neck stuck on my left side and my parents thought I wanted to get out of school. I have been lifting free weights for years and am surprised at the muscle strain after playing heavy vibrato on my cello. I am using new muscles. This is what I get for trying to imitate professional cellists vibrato.
