Technical Practice The strings are struck with the wood of the bow. In addition to the intended pitch, col legno also produces a subsidiary pitch which varies according to the placement of the bow. As the bow strikes the string closer to the bridge the pitch ascends and vice versa.
Notes The most commonly found instruction involving the wood of the bow is col legno which typically means that the bow wood is used to activate the string with a percussive attack. However, as technical innovations have progressed in recent years, it is more prudent to label such an articulation as col legno battuto in order to differentiate it from other articulations.
Extensive use with high dynamic levels will damage the varnish of the bow and should be avoided.
Dynamic Range:pp-ff Difficulty: 1 Special Notes: Extensive use at high volume has the potential to damage the bow.