What does pizzicati mean?
Pizzicati are musical notes or passages produced by plucking the strings of an instrument rather than drawing a bow across them. The word is the plural of pizzicato and is frequently encountered in orchestral scores, rehearsal directions, and descriptions of string music. Its light, sharply articulated character can suggest wit, bounce, playfulness, or an unexpectedly delicate texture, although its effect depends on the tempo, dynamics, and instrumentation. On bowed string instruments, players may pluck with either the index finger or the fleshy part of the thumb, and a passage may alternate between pizzicato and ordinary bowing. The expression comes from Italian and has become standard in musical terminology in British and American English.
noun (plural)The plural of pizzicato: musical notes or passages played on a string instrument by plucking the strings with the fingers rather than using a bow.
- Multiple musical notes or passages produced on a string instrument by plucking the strings with the fingers rather than using a bow.
"The cello part ended with a series of delicate pizzicati."
"The violins accompanied the melody with light pizzicati."
"Repeated pizzicati in the bass give the passage a playful, bouncing character."
Pizzicati is the regular plural of pizzicato. The form is standard in scores, orchestral instructions, and descriptions of string performance.
"The ensemble ended with a passage of pizzicati."
Pizzicati lets a string section sound as though every player has quietly stolen a harp.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pizzicati come from?
Pizzicati is the Italian plural of pizzicato, a term meaning "plucked" and used for notes played by plucking string instruments. Italian pizzicato derives from pizzicare, "to pluck," which belongs to the same musical word family as pizzico, a plucking or a note produced by plucking. The term was adopted into English musical usage in its singular form, with the regular plural appearing in scores and descriptions.
Related word forms
How pizzicati is actually used
Pizzicati is the regular plural of pizzicato and is especially common in orchestral parts, directions, and descriptions of string writing. The shortened form "pizz." is also widely used in scores.
Easily confused with pizzicati
Pizzicato is the singular form and can also name the technique of plucking, whereas pizzicati refers to multiple plucked notes or passages.