String Bowings and Articulations

Arco

With the bow

Detache

Each note bowed separately, played broadly

Frog

To be played near the frog; The part of the bow that keeps the horsehairs intact

Tip, Point, Pt.

To be played near the point of the bow

Jete

“Thrown” bow (flying staccato)

Spiccato (spicc.)

A light, bouncing bow movement

Tremolo

A rapid repetition of notes/A rapid alternation between two notes, resulting in a trembling sound

Col Legno

With the stick of the bow

Lower Half, LH

Lower Half of the Bow

Upper Half, UH

Upper Half of the Bow

Pizzicato, Pizz.

Pluck string(s) with finger(s)

Ponticello, Pont.

A light tone, sounding upper partials by bowing near the bridge of a stringed instrument

Scordatura

Special tuning of a stringed instrument

Sul G (or other string)

On (as in Sul D, on the D string)

Sul Tasto

On the fingerboard

Down Bow

An upside open box

Up Bow

V

Double Stop

Playing two notes simultaneously on a stringed instrument