
The tips there are for the left hand, but the same principles apply for the right hand when using pizzicato.
#VIOLIN PIZZICATO SKIN#
Developing CallusesĬheck out our article about building calluses for tips about hardening the skin on your fingers to help reduce finger pain. You may find that you like one better than the others, or that it is convenient to switch between them as your fingers get tired, or for different parts of the piece. By using two fingers, you can often double the speed at which you can perform a series of pizzicato notes.Īlso find out the best strategy for you: you can bend your fingers to pluck the strings, or you can also keep your finger straight and and move your wrist or your hand to put your finger in contact with the string.

Some pieces call for fast pizzicato, which can be a challenge! A good strategy for both faster pizzicato and helping prevent blisters is to alternate between your first and second finger on your right hand. If a violinist or violist has to play pizzicato for a long period of time, they may put down their bow, hold. The bow is held in the hand at the same time unless there is enough time to put it down and pick it up again between bowed passages. Some beginner violin books have you start playing exclusively pizzicato at the very start (regardless of what is indicated in the sheet music), as learning violin bow technique is a whole additional process. This has remained the most usual way to execute a pizzicato, though sometimes the middle finger is used. If neither pizz. nor arco are explicitly stated in your sheet music, then you should assume the music is meant to be played arco (with the bow). The opposite of pizzicato is arco, which in Italian means “bow.” Pizzicato in Sheet Music Usually abbreviated pizz., pizzicato means you should pluck the strings instead of using the violin bow.
