Spiccato
A bouncing bow stroke producing short, separated notes.
Category
articulation
Pronunciation
spih-KAH-toh
Origin
Italian
Length
89 words · 1 min read
About Spiccato
Spiccato is a string bowing technique where the bow bounces lightly off the string, producing notes that are short and detached but with a lighter character than staccato. It requires precise control of bow speed and pressure.
More articulation terms
Pizzicato
View all articulationterms →Plucked with the finger rather than bowed.
PortamentoA smooth, vocal-style slide between two notes.
TenutoHeld for its full value; sustained with emphasis.
MarcatoMarked; each note played with strong emphasis.
ArpeggioNotes of a chord played in rapid succession rather than simultaneously.
Compare with similar terms
v1 · 09/04/2026Browse all terms →