Meaning & use
arco violin
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountabletechnicalmusic
A violin part or passage that is played with the bow rather than by plucking the strings.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'an arco violin line' or 'the arco violins' when talking about a group of such parts.
Patterns
- an arco violin passage
- the arco violins
- play something arco
The composer marks the opening as an arco violin solo, so the player must use the bow.
After the pizzicato section, the arco violins return with a warm, sustained melody.
In the score, 'arco' tells the violinist to switch back from plucking to bowing.
adjectivebefore a nountechnicalmusic
Played with the bow, as opposed to plucked, when describing a violin sound or technique.
Grammar: Used before a noun: 'arco playing', 'arco technique'. It does not usually come after the verb.
Patterns
- arco playing
- arco technique
- arco sound
Her arco technique is much stronger than her pizzicato.
The arco sound of the violins filled the hall with a rich, singing tone.
He spent hours practicing arco bowing to get a smooth, even line.
Common combinations
- arco passage
- The arco passage in the second movement requires a steady bow arm.
- arco playing
- The teacher praised his arco playing but said his pizzicato needed work.
- switch to arco
- The cellist had to switch to arco after the plucked opening.
- arco and pizzicato
- The piece alternates between arco and pizzicato effects.
Synonyms and how they differ
- bowed
- A more general English word; it can describe any instrument played with a bow, while 'arco' is the specific Italian term used in violin music.
- with the bow
- A plain English phrase that means the same thing but is not a technical label in a score.
Opposites
Word family
- arco adverb
- The Italian musical direction meaning 'with the bow'.
Commonly confused: arco violin or pizzicato?
arco violin vs pizzicato
Pizzicato means plucking the strings with the fingers, the opposite of arco. If you see 'pizz.' in the music, do not use the bow.
Practice
In a musical score, what does the instruction 'arco' tell a violinist to do?
Choose one answer.
'Arco' is Italian for 'bow', so it tells the player to use the bow. 'Pluck the strings' describes pizzicato, and 'play very softly' would be 'piano' or 'dolce', not arco.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “arco violin”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.