The viola da gamba (also called the "viol" or "gamba") is not a fretted cello!
It may look like one, but a cello has 4 strings and a viol usually has 6, like a guitar, or 7.
In addition, the viol's frets aren't permanently set, like those of a guitar, but are instead made of gut tied onto the neck, like those of a lute, and are therefore movable.
Viols are bowed, like cellos, but the bow is held differently-not overhand, as is a violin or cello bow, but underhand, like a pencil or chopsticks.
Viols are also tuned differently than are cellos.
Cellos (and violins and violas) are tuned in fifths. Viols are tuned in fourths, with a third between the third and fourth strings, just like a lute and almost like a guitar. Chords can easily be played on the viol with the bow and are often included in solo music.
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