Sul tasto
On the fingerboard; bowing over the fingerboard for a soft tone.
Category
articulation
Pronunciation
sool TAH-stoh
Origin
Italian
Length
77 words · 1 min read
About Sul tasto
Sul tasto instructs string players to bow over the fingerboard, producing a warm, breathy, flute-like tone with fewer overtones — the opposite of sul ponticello. Debussy and Ravel used it frequently for impressionistic textures.
More articulation terms
Tratteggiato
View all articulationterms →An articulation marking indicating short, detached strokes drawn lightly across the string.
LegatoSmooth, connected
Con sordinoWith mute; using a mute on the instrument.
AccentA stress or emphasis placed on a particular note or beat.
PortatoCarried; between legato and staccato.
Compare with similar terms
v1 · 10/04/2026Browse all terms →