![]() ![]() Tchaikovsky’s Symphony no 4 has a whole scherzo movement for pizzicato strings. In the 19th century the Romantic composers often asked for pizzicato. Monteverdi used it in his opera Il combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda. In orchestras composers used pizzicato in the 17th century. This is not the same as jazz bass players who slap the strings at the end of a note (“slap bass”). One special effect can be made by pulling the string hard and letting it go so that it snaps against the fingerboard. Double basses usually play pizzicato when playing with jazz groups. For example: in a waltz the cellos and violas might be accompanying the tune with an “um-cha-cha, um-cha-cha” while the double basses just pluck on the “um” (the first beat of the bar). Double basses often play pizzicato to give extra rhythmic and harmonic support. Pizzicato notes on the double bass sound much more resonant (big and boomy). The player can get different sounds by plucking in different parts of the string. Pizzicato notes sound short and detached (staccato). ![]() This is fine so long as the player has time to pick the bow up again when it goes back to arco. If there is a long pizzicato section then it is more comfortable to put the bow down instead of holding it in the right hand all the time. It can take a little more time to go back to bowing again because the player has to get the bow back into playing position. If the bowed note finishes near the tip the player needs a moment to get the hand ready to pluck. It is easy to play a bowed note and then immediately a plucked note if the bowed note finished near the heel of the bow (the end where the bow is held). ![]() Very often players have to change very quickly from bowing to plucking and back again. This is normally when they are deliberately imitating a guitar. Very occasionally violinists may be asked to pluck their instruments holding them down in their laps. Stopped strings are harder, and the brilliant violinist and composer Niccolò Paganini wrote some virtuoso pieces with extremely difficult left hand pizzicato. It is not difficult to pluck an open string with the left hand. I have yet to find a student that didn't enjoy playing this piece.It is also possible to play pizzicato with the left hand (the hand which is normally doing the fingering). They also have this music in an orchestra arrangement. Looking for a song that practices plucking? Plink, Plank, Plunk! By Leroy Anderson is a very fun piece that also helps beginner students practice the technique of plucking. Learn How to Pizzicato with this fun music! Open strings will sound different then fingered notes, and will stand out too much. This can sometimes be unavoidable when plucking many notes right in a row. Careful not to let your left hand fingers stop the ringing of the string. Try to create a round full sound with each note.Use the fleshy part of the tip of your finger.As you become more advanced or need to hold the bow while you pluck, try to maintain a normal bow hold while reaching down and plucking with your pointer finger on the right hand.If you pluck too close to the bridge the string will be too stiff and tight.Use the fingerboard to anchor the right thumb. ![]()
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