{"id":34655,"date":"2018-06-08T08:00:13","date_gmt":"2018-06-08T15:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/classicalguitarshed.foureyes.com\/?p=34655"},"modified":"2022-08-02T04:07:47","modified_gmt":"2022-08-02T11:07:47","slug":"pizzicato","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/pizzicato\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Play Pizzicato Technique on Classical Guitar (pizz.)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The guitar is a versatile instrument. This is one reason Ludwig van Beethoven called the guitar \u201ca miniature orchestra in itself.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Using special techniques, we can create varied sounds and textures. And one such special techniques on guitar is the \u201cpizzicato\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"centerc\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/EdXPGCJErUU?rel=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;autohide=1\" width=\"700\" height=\"393\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">?<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">What is Pizzicato (pizz.)?<\/h2>\n<p>\u201cPizzicato\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pizzicato\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">translates<\/a> roughly as \u201cplucked\u201d, or \u201cpinched\u201d. The result is a short, slightly muted sound, much like a jazz \u201cwalking bass\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Instruments using a bow (violin, cello, etc.) may use the end of their bow to pluck the strings for this effect.<\/p>\n<p>On guitar, we usually opt for the thumb.<\/p>\n<p>When we see music that calls for pizzicato playing, it\u2019s usually abbreviated \u201cpizz.\u201d.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/pizzicato-excerpt.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-34716 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/pizzicato-excerpt.jpg\" alt=\"pizzicato on guitar\" width=\"700\" height=\"135\" srcset=\"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/pizzicato-excerpt.jpg 700w, https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/pizzicato-excerpt-300x58.jpg 300w, https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/pizzicato-excerpt-100x19.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">How to Play Pizzicato on Classical Guitar &#8211; Right Hand Position<\/h2>\n<p>To play pizzicato on the guitar, first place the outside of the hand on the bridge of the guitar (as in a \u201ckarate chop\u201d).<a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/pizzicato-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-34717 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/pizzicato-1.jpg\" alt=\"hand on the bridge\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/pizzicato-1.jpg 400w, https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/pizzicato-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/pizzicato-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/pizzicato-1-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Next, roll the hand down toward the strings until the <a href=\"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.foureyes.com\/classical-guitar-thumb-technique\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">thumb<\/a> comes within striking distance of the strings.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/pizzicato-2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-34718 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/pizzicato-2.jpg\" alt=\"pizzicato thumb\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/pizzicato-2.jpg 400w, https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/pizzicato-2-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/pizzicato-2-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/pizzicato-2-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>When we play from this position, the flesh of the outer hand is muting the strings back by the bridge, though not completely.<\/p>\n<h3>Usually Bass Guitar Strings Only on the Pizzicato<\/h3>\n<p>Most often, we only play pizzicato on guitar using the bass notes and strings.<\/p>\n<p>While there are exceptions, the vast majority of pizzicato effects written in guitar music use the bass only.<\/p>\n<p>This may be because of the lesser sound quality and projection of the higher-pitched pizzicato notes, or for ease of playing.<\/p>\n<h3>Listen for the Balance of Pitch and Duration<\/h3>\n<p>Through trial and error, we can find the perfect <a href=\"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.foureyes.com\/chord-balance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">balance<\/a> of pitch and duration.<\/p>\n<p>If we mute the string too much, the note will come out as a \u201cthud\u201d or a \u201cthunk\u201d, and we won\u2019t be able to hear the actual note.<\/p>\n<p>If we <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/muting\/\">mute too little<\/a>, the note will ring out as normal.<\/p>\n<p>Between these two is a \u201csweet spot\u201d where the note is still audible, but is shortened and altered in tone quality.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Practice Moving Into and Out of Pizzicato Position<\/h2>\n<p>To gain facility with the pizzicato technique, we can practice moving into and out of position.<\/p>\n<p>We can use any simple exercise or excerpt for this. The goal is to be able to jump into perfect pizzicato position, and return to an optimal basic position. We should be able to do this in rhythm and without much \u201cfoot shuffling\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>With a little time and practice, we can become masters of the pizzicato!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The guitar is a versatile instrument. This is one reason Ludwig van Beethoven called the guitar \u201ca miniature orchestra in itself.\u201d Using special techniques, we can create varied sounds and textures. And one such special techniques on guitar is the \u201cpizzicato\u201d. ? What is Pizzicato (pizz.)? \u201cPizzicato\u201d translates roughly as \u201cplucked\u201d, or \u201cpinched\u201d. The result is a short, slightly muted &#8230; <\/p>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/pizzicato\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":2973,"featured_media":34656,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,434,3],"tags":[359,377],"class_list":["post-34655","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technique","category-main-content-parent","category-phrasing","tag-right-hand-technique","tag-special-techniques"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.8 (Yoast SEO v25.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Play the Pizzicato Technique on Classical Guitar<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover pizzicato and how to play it on guitar. 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Free Video and Walkthrough.","og_url":"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/pizzicato\/","og_site_name":"Classical Guitar Shed","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ClassicalGuitarShed\/","article_published_time":"2018-06-08T15:00:13+00:00","article_modified_time":"2022-08-02T11:07:47+00:00","og_image":[{"width":640,"height":320,"url":"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/pizzicato-640.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Allen Mathews","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@CLguitarshed","twitter_site":"@CLguitarshed","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Allen Mathews","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/pizzicato\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/pizzicato\/"},"author":{"name":"Allen Mathews","@id":"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/#\/schema\/person\/435f2f8d2618df3c54e630e55ba86fc6"},"headline":"How to Play Pizzicato Technique on Classical Guitar (pizz.)","datePublished":"2018-06-08T15:00:13+00:00","dateModified":"2022-08-02T11:07:47+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/pizzicato\/"},"wordCount":419,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/pizzicato\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/pizzicato-640.jpg","keywords":["right hand technique","special techniques"],"articleSection":["Guitar Technique","Main Content Parent","Making It Beautiful"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/pizzicato\/","url":"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/pizzicato\/","name":"How to Play the Pizzicato Technique on Classical Guitar","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/pizzicato\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/pizzicato\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/pizzicato-640.jpg","datePublished":"2018-06-08T15:00:13+00:00","dateModified":"2022-08-02T11:07:47+00:00","description":"Discover pizzicato and how to play it on guitar. 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