Pizzicato
Pizzicato
A good way to begin playing the violin is to hold it in the playing position and to play the open strings pizzicato, which means plucking the strings with the index finger of the bowing hand. Since you won’t be using the left hand to help play the notes, the strings are described as open.
Names of the Open Strings
Before you begin, memorize the names of the open strings. To play a note pizzicato, place the tip of your right thumb against the upper right corner of the fingerboard near the E string, as shown in the photograph. Pluck the strings with your index finger about five centimeters away from the bridge. Try plucking each of the four strings and saying the name of each string out loud as you pluck it.
Practice playing the open strings pizzicato in the order shown in the following diagram. The first time you play the exercise, say the names of the strings out loud as you pluck each one. The second time you play the exercise, count 1, 2, 1, 2 etc., and keep the notes even. There are four beats count in for this tune.
