open strings
the four main strings of the violin as tuned by the player
open fifths
the distance in tuning between consecutive strings
range
the distance from the lowest to highest notes on the instrument
arpeggio
the notes of a chord (do-mi-sol-do) played one after another
scale
the succession of musical notes known as “do-re-mi-fa-sol-la-ti-do”
virtuosity
the display of excellence in technical ability
vibrato
rocking the fingers on the strings to make the pitch waver slightly
•white tone
the absence of vibrato in the string tone
mute or “con sordino” (“with a mute”)
adding a small clamp on the bridge to cut down on string vibration
double or triplestopping
playing two or three strings at the same time
pizzicato
plucking the strings instead of bowing them
arco
bowing the strings
harmonics
a high flutey sound produced by touching the string lightly at strategic points so that its overtones will sound
trill
rapidly alternating two adjacent notes
tremolo
rapidly repeating the same note
•strings divisi
dividing a section of string instruments into smaller groups
legato
playing in a smooth style, connecting one note to the next
staccato
playing in a detached style, slightly separating successive notes
spiccato
detached playing, by dropping and lifting the bow for each note
saltando
bouncing the bow off the strings repeatedly