David Kellner's fame rests on his thorough-bass treatise Treulicher Unterricht im General-Bass. . . (Hamburg, 1732) and his lute tablature book XVI auserlesene Lauten-Stücke. . . (Hamburg, 1747).

Of his lute book, on the other hand, only two copies seem to be extant. A few of his lute pieces are to be found in manuscript sources. The XVI auserlesene Lauten-Stücke was furthermore one of the last tablature books to be published.

Kellner opens his book with a short introduction, where he says that the "Clavir" is the most suitable instrument for the thorough-bass, but it can also be performed on the lute, the theorbo, the calichon, the bandora, the viol and even the guitar. He particularly mentions Sylvius Leopold Weiss in this connection.

Works for lute
Phantasia In C Major, Phantasia In A Minor, Phantasia In D Major, Campanela, Aria, Courante, Sarabande, Gigue, Gavotte, Phantasia In D Minor, Phantasia In F Major, Phantasia In A Major, Rondeau, Giga, Pastorel, Passepied, Chaconne.