Pizzicato

Part of speech: adverb

Pronunciation: /ˌpɪtsɪˈkɑːtoʊ/

Definitions

1. A technique used in string instrument performance consists of plucking the strings instead of bowing them, creating a bright and percussive sound that enhances musical texture
2. Involves a method of sound production on string instruments where the performer uses their fingers to pull the strings directly, yielding a unique timbre distinct from bowing techniques
3. A playing method where strings are pliked by fingers rather than bowed to produce a crisp, staccato note

Etymology: Plucking a string with the finger is about as old as stringed instruments themselves, but the Italian word for it is surprisingly recent in its musical sense. "Pizzicato" is the past participle of "pizzicare", meaning "to pluck" or "to pinch", so it literally describes a string that has been plucked. Italian composers borrowed the term into musical notation to instruct players to abandon the bow and pluck instead. English took the word directly from Italian, and it appears in the language as a marking on sheet music rather than as an everyday word. Its job is simple: when a passage calls for the strings to be plucked, the score says "pizz.", and the player sets the bow aside. The contrast with bowing is the whole point, since a plucked string sounds sharper and shorter than one drawn by a bow.

Synonyms: plucked, strummed