Col legno
With the wood; striking strings with the bow stick.
Category
articulation
Pronunciation
kohl LEN-yoh
Origin
Italian
Length
94 words · 1 min read
About Col legno
Col legno instructs string players to turn the bow over and strike or bounce the wooden stick against the strings. This produces a distinctive clicking, percussive sound.
More articulation terms
Portamento
View all articulationterms →A smooth, vocal-style slide between two notes.
PortatoCarried; between legato and staccato.
AccentA stress or emphasis placed on a particular note or beat.
SpiccatoA bouncing bow stroke producing short, separated notes.
TenutoHeld for its full value; sustained with emphasis.
Compare with similar terms
v1 · 10/04/2026Browse all terms →