I'm not quite sure how to work out where to play notes in the treble clef on the cello. Can anyone help? I'm trying to play a piece for fun that has a section in the treble, and it has me a bit befuddled.

Yes! That's all I needed, I think. I was confused because I thought that the C in the second space on the stave was mid C in the bass clef. Duh!

Well, unfortunately there are two different interpretations for how treble clef should be read: namely, at true pitch, or an octave below notated pitch. Generally, in older orchestral parts, if a section in bass clef is followed by treble clef, then the treble clef should be read an octave lower than notated pitch. Generally, these parts do not use tenor clef.

Modern and contemporary cello music will often use bass, tenor, and treble clefs, and usually is intended to be played at notated pitch in each case. You just have to use common sense to some extent.

oh great. common sense isn't really one of my skills! I think the piece that I'm playing with is intended to be played at pitch, not an octave below. I guess I'll just have to experiment!