In the movie "Ghostbusters", what instrument does Dana play?

The story behind the answer

In Ghostbusters, Dana Barrett plays the cello.

Dana, portrayed by Sigourney Weaver in the 1984 film, is introduced as a professional musician and concert cellist living in New York. Her cello case appears when she returns to her apartment, and her musical career helps establish her as a serious, independent character before the supernatural events begin.

Dana becomes the Ghostbusters’ first client after witnessing bizarre activity in her kitchen, including a strange apparition emerging from her refrigerator. Her apartment building at 550 Central Park West is later revealed to be the focal point of Gozer’s supernatural plan.

A common mix-up is identifying Dana as a violinist because the film includes orchestral scenes and a separate violinist character. Dana’s instrument is specifically the cello, a large bowed string instrument held between the knees while played.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Aug. 2026

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