How to Use Staccato Technique for Cello

A musical technique that can be tried with the cello is the staccato technique. The Italian word staccato means detached or separate. In music, it indicates notes that sound distinctly separate, with a very brief silence between both notes. Staccato notes are usually played very abrupt and short. Read on to learn more.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Begin by holding the cello upright, with the left hand on the upper neck of the cello and the right hand holding the bow about an inch above the strings.

2. Move the bow across the strings in abrupt motions. Each note is played by moving the bow one way across the strings. Keep the bow horizontal and flat and the hair of the bow straight. The movement of the quick motions should be grounded in the elbow, not the hand or the wrist.

3. Alternate the motion of the bow with each note. One note should be played by pulling the bow across the strings very quickly, while the next note is played by pushing the bow across the strings in the other direction.

4. Very briefly pause between each note or back and forth motion to create a very brief silence to separate the notes, making them brief and distinctive.

5. Play the notes strongly, with as much volume as possible. The staccato technique is seldom used with soft sounding notes.

6. Use the pizzicato technique to create staccato notes. This is done by plucking the notes with one or more fingers of the right hand. This should be done very quickly and abruptly to create the distinct sound of staccato technique.