Pizzicato

Pronunciation: /pɪˈzɪkəˌtoʊ/

Definitions of pizzicato

noun a technique in music where the strings of a string instrument are plucked with the fingers instead of being bowed

Example Sentences

A1 I like the sound of pizzicato in classical music.

A2 The orchestra used pizzicato to create a playful melody.

B1 The cellist demonstrated excellent pizzicato technique during the concert.

B2 The composer wrote a section with pizzicato strings to add texture to the piece.

C1 The conductor instructed the string section to play with precision in the pizzicato passages.

C2 The solo violinist showcased virtuosic skill in the challenging pizzicato section of the concerto.

Examples of pizzicato in a Sentence

formal The violinist demonstrated impressive pizzicato technique during the concerto.

informal I love it when the strings play pizzicato in this song, it sounds so cool!

slang The pizzicato part in that track was lit!

figurative Her words were like pizzicato notes, hitting all the right spots in the conversation.

Grammatical Forms of pizzicato

• past tense: pizzicatoed
• plural: pizzicatos
• comparative: more pizzicato
• superlative: most pizzicato
• present tense: pizzicatos
• future tense: will pizzicato
• perfect tense: have pizzicatoed
• continuous tense: is pizzicatoing
• singular: pizzicato
• positive degree: pizzicato
• infinitive: to pizzicato
• gerund: pizzicatoing
• participle: pizzicatoed

Origin and Evolution of pizzicato

First Known Use: 1676 year

Language of Origin: Italian

Story behind the word: The word 'pizzicato' originated from Italian, derived from the word 'pizzicare' meaning 'to pluck'.

Evolution of the word: Originally used in music notation to indicate that a stringed instrument should be plucked instead of bowed, 'pizzicato' has evolved to also describe a style of playing where the strings are plucked with the fingers. The term is now commonly used in various forms of music to indicate a plucking technique.