In bowed string technique, which term implies playing with the wood end of the bow?

In bowed string technique, which term implies playing with the wood end of the bow?

• A. Spiccato
• B. Arco
• C. Pizzicato
• D. Col legno

Answer: (D)

Col legno means to play with the wood end of the bow rather than the hair. This instruction asks the player to strike or draw the string with the stick, producing a distinct, percussive timbre that contrasts with ordinary bowing. It’s different from arco, which simply indicates using the bow on the strings; spiccato refers to a light, detaché bow bounce; and pizzicato means plucking the strings with the fingers. Sometimes col legno appears as col legno battuto (struck with the wood) or col legno tratto (drawn with the wood), specifying the motion, but the core idea is using the wood part of the bow.

Col legno means to play with the wood end of the bow rather than the hair. This instruction asks the player to strike or draw the string with the stick, producing a distinct, percussive timbre that contrasts with ordinary bowing. It’s different from arco, which simply indicates using the bow on the strings; spiccato refers to a light, detaché bow bounce; and pizzicato means plucking the strings with the fingers. Sometimes col legno appears as col legno battuto (struck with the wood) or col legno tratto (drawn with the wood), specifying the motion, but the core idea is using the wood part of the bow.