Strings test questions with correct
solutions
Legato CORRECT ANSWERS A group of notes played smoothly and connected.
Staccato CORRECT ANSWERS Short up and down bows (notes are half-length). Bow
may or may not leave the string. Indicated by dots placed over/under the note.
Spiccato CORRECT ANSWERS Staccato with a bounced bow. Usually used for faster
passages. Slurred staccato Short notes played in the same bow.
Detache CORRECT ANSWERS A cross between legato and staccato, Indicated by a
line placed on or under the note.
Loure CORRECT ANSWERS A succession of notes slightly separated played on the
same bow. Indicated same as detaché but with a slur (also commonly referred to as a
"Hooked Bowing").
Marcato CORRECT ANSWERS Heavy, separate stroke with a pressed accent played
near the heel.
Tremolo CORRECT ANSWERS Small but very rapid up and down bows. Can sound
dramatic, ethereal, scary or clichéd if overdone. Measured (e.g. semiquavers) written
with two slashes, unmeasured with three.
Glissando/Portamento CORRECT ANSWERS Sliding from one note to another,
indicated by a line between the notes.
Sul G etc CORRECT ANSWERS This means all notes played on the G string, can
apply to any other string as requested e.g. Sul A.
Bariolage CORRECT ANSWERS A passage, often in Bach but in Brahms and
elsewhere, where the fingers are held down over several strings and the bow oscillates
between the several strings. The Bach E Major Partita is a notorious example. Very
impressive sounding; not so hard once you get the trick of it.
Bartók pizz CORRECT ANSWERS Also called snap pizz. Right hand pulls the string
away from the fingerboard and releases, causing a snapping sound.
Bouncing bow: CORRECT ANSWERS This is not just spiccato, which is an off-the-
string, at-the-sounding-point technique of very small up and down bows, originating
from the wrist, but a host of other definitions with very fine distinctions as to their
meanings.
solutions
Legato CORRECT ANSWERS A group of notes played smoothly and connected.
Staccato CORRECT ANSWERS Short up and down bows (notes are half-length). Bow
may or may not leave the string. Indicated by dots placed over/under the note.
Spiccato CORRECT ANSWERS Staccato with a bounced bow. Usually used for faster
passages. Slurred staccato Short notes played in the same bow.
Detache CORRECT ANSWERS A cross between legato and staccato, Indicated by a
line placed on or under the note.
Loure CORRECT ANSWERS A succession of notes slightly separated played on the
same bow. Indicated same as detaché but with a slur (also commonly referred to as a
"Hooked Bowing").
Marcato CORRECT ANSWERS Heavy, separate stroke with a pressed accent played
near the heel.
Tremolo CORRECT ANSWERS Small but very rapid up and down bows. Can sound
dramatic, ethereal, scary or clichéd if overdone. Measured (e.g. semiquavers) written
with two slashes, unmeasured with three.
Glissando/Portamento CORRECT ANSWERS Sliding from one note to another,
indicated by a line between the notes.
Sul G etc CORRECT ANSWERS This means all notes played on the G string, can
apply to any other string as requested e.g. Sul A.
Bariolage CORRECT ANSWERS A passage, often in Bach but in Brahms and
elsewhere, where the fingers are held down over several strings and the bow oscillates
between the several strings. The Bach E Major Partita is a notorious example. Very
impressive sounding; not so hard once you get the trick of it.
Bartók pizz CORRECT ANSWERS Also called snap pizz. Right hand pulls the string
away from the fingerboard and releases, causing a snapping sound.
Bouncing bow: CORRECT ANSWERS This is not just spiccato, which is an off-the-
string, at-the-sounding-point technique of very small up and down bows, originating
from the wrist, but a host of other definitions with very fine distinctions as to their
meanings.
