pizzicato
Plucked, not bowed
Pizzicato is a technique in string playing where the musician plucks the strings with their fingers rather than using the bow.
The term comes from Italian and literally means "pinched." As a musical direction, it tells performers to switch from bowing to plucking, creating a short, percussive sound quite different from the sustained tones of arco (bowed) playing.
The cellist switched to pizzicato for the lighter passage.
Spirit or yank
- snapSudden sharp sound
- twangSharp vibrating sound
- percussiveRelating to struck sounds
- staccatoShort, separated note style
crisp · dry · muted · resonant · delicate · bright · sharp · pointed
Removing by tugging
- fingertipTerminal phalanx pad
- arcoPlay with bow
- staccatoShort, separated note style
- legatoUnbroken musical phrasing
sul tasto · tremolo · vibrato · glissando · portamento · harmonics · double stop · mute
Bowed string instrument
- celloDeep-voiced bowed instrument
- violaMidrange bowed instrument
- double bassLargest bowed string instrument
- contrabassLargest bowed string instrument
harp · fiddle · guitar · mandolin · ukulele · banjo · lute · chamber music
Numerical standing in competition
- markingIndicating with symbols
- instructionGuidance for action
- passageSegment of text
- sectionDistinct divided part
movement · composition · arrangement · transcription · dynamics · fortissimo · pianissimo · crescendo
pluck
Spirit or yank
- snapSudden sharp sound
- twangSharp vibrating sound
- percussiveRelating to struck sounds
staccato · crisp · dry · muted · resonant · delicate · bright · sharp · pointed · incisive
plucking
Removing by tugging
legato · sul tasto · tremolo · vibrato · glissando · portamento · harmonics · double stop · mute · bowing
violin
Bowed string instrument
- celloDeep-voiced bowed instrument
- violaMidrange bowed instrument
- double bassLargest bowed string instrument
contrabass · harp · fiddle · guitar · mandolin · ukulele · banjo · lute · chamber music · orchestra
score
Numerical standing in competition
- markingIndicating with symbols
- instructionGuidance for action
- passageSegment of text
section · movement · composition · arrangement · transcription · dynamics · fortissimo · pianissimo · crescendo · decrescendo
syncopation
Stressed unexpected beats
beat · pattern · accent · groove · cadence · measure · timing · polyrhythm
- musicmusic, song, songs, singing, singer
- classical musicBach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Brahms
- musicianshipsinging, playing, performing, practicing, harmonizing
- music notationtreble clef, bass clef, clef, clefs, staff
- musical termsadagio, andante, allegro, lento, largo
- playing techniquespicking, arpeggiated, fingerpicking, block chords, broken chords