What Does Spiccato Mean?

Spiccato is a type of a bowing technique that is used for stringed instruments. In the spiccato technique the bow bounces lightly on the string, this technique is often performed with the tip of the bow. The Spiccato technique was very frequently used during the Baroque period.

The bow is held slightly over the string and is allowed to bounce, this technique can be completed due to the elasticity of the string, and the speed for the performance of the Spiccato technique depends on the placement of the bow. The proper method is to keep the spiccato slow at the balance point while above the middle part of the bow the speed will increase. The spiccato technique was developed by Francois Tourte (1747 to the year 1835).

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