2.3 Unfretted string instruments

This section provides information and references which are helpful when writing for unfretted string instruments, principally orchestral strings.

2.3.1 Common notation for unfretted strings

There is little specialist notation for unfretted string instruments. The music is notated on a single staff, and usually only a single voice is required. Two voices might be required for some double-stopped or divisi passages.

References for unfretted strings

Most of the notation which is useful for orchestral strings and other bowed instruments is covered elsewhere:

• Textual indications such as “pizz.” and “arco” are added as simple text – see Text scripts.
• Fingerings, including the thumb indication, are described in Fingering instructions.
• String numbers may be added (generally in roman numbers for bowed instruments) as explained in String number indications.
• Double stopping is normally indicated by writing a chord, see Chorded notes. Directives for playing chords may be added, see Arpeggio.
• Templates for string quartets can be found in (learning)String quartet templates section ‘String quartet templates’ in Learning Manual. Others are shown in the snippets.

See also

Learning Manual: (learning)String quartet templates section ‘String quartet templates’ in Learning Manual.

Notation Reference: Text scripts, Fingering instructions, Chorded notes, Arpeggio.

Snippets: (snippets)Unfretted strings section ‘Unfretted strings’ in Snippets.

Bowing indications

Bowing indications are created as articulations, which are described in Articulations and ornamentations.

The bowing commands, \upbow and \downbow, are used with slurs as follows:

\relative { c''4(\downbow d) e(\upbow f) }

Roman numerals can be used for string numbers (rather than the default circled Arabic numbers), as explained in String number indications.

Alternatively, string indications may be printed using markup commands; articulation scripts may also indicate open strings.

a'4 \open \romanStringNumbers a'\2 a'2^\markup { \small "sul A" }

Predefined commands

\downbow, \upbow, \open, \romanStringNumbers.

See also

Notation Reference: Articulations and ornamentations, String number indications, Slurs.

Harmonics

Natural harmonics

Natural harmonics can be notated in several ways. A diamond-shaped note head generally means to touch the string where you would stop the note if it were not a diamond.

\relative d'' { d4 e4. \harmonicsOn d8 e e d4 e4. \harmonicsOff d8 e e }

Alternatively a normal note head is shown at the pitch to be sounded together with a small circle to indicate it should be played as a harmonic:

d''2^\flageolet d''_\flageolet

A smaller circle may be created, see the snippet list in References for unfretted strings.

Artificial harmonics

Artificial harmonics are notated with two notes, one with a normal note head indicating the stopped position and one with an open diamond note head to indicate the harmonic position.

Artificial harmonics indicated with \harmonic do not show the dots. The context property harmonicDots should be set if dots are required.

\relative e' { <e a\harmonic>2. <c g'\harmonic>4 \set harmonicDots = ##t <e a\harmonic>2. <c g'\harmonic>4 }

See also

Music Glossary: (music-glossary)harmonics section ‘harmonics’ in Music Glossary.

Notation Reference: Special note heads, References for unfretted strings.

Snap (Bartók) pizzicato

A snap pizzicato (also known as “Bartok pizz”) is a type of pizzicato where the string is deliberately plucked upwards (rather than sideways) such that it hits the fingerboard.

\relative { c'4\snappizzicato <c' e g>4\snappizzicato <c' e g>4^\snappizzicato <c, e g>4_\snappizzicato }

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