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Sul ponticello

On the bridge; bowing near the bridge for a glassy tone.

Category
articulation
Pronunciation
sool pon-tee-CHEL-loh
Origin

Italian

Length
78 words · 1 min read

About Sul ponticello

Sul ponticello instructs string players to bow very close to the bridge, producing a thin, glassy, metallic sound rich in high overtones. The tone is eerie and ghostly — used for atmospheric, unsettling effects in Romantic and modern music.
v1 · 10/04/2026Browse all terms →