pizzicato explained
The technique of plucking the strings of a bowed instrument with the fingers instead of using the bow
In Depth
Pizzicato (from the Italian pizzicare, to pinch) produces a short, percussive sound fundamentally different from bowed tone. Left-hand pizzicato allows the player to pluck with the left hand while the bow remains in position for quick transitions. Bartók pizzicato (or snap pizzicato) is performed by pulling the string away from the fingerboard and letting it snap back with a percussive crack. Pizzicato sections are common in orchestral music and create a distinctive textural change from sustained bowing.
The pizzicato movement from Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony is played entirely without bows — a remarkable orchestral effect that sounds like a giant music box.