Sul tasto
On the fingerboard; bowing over the fingerboard for a soft tone.
Category
articulation
Pronunciation
sool TAH-stoh
Origin
Italian
Length
77 words · 1 min read
About Sul tasto
Sul tasto instructs string players to bow over the fingerboard, producing a warm, breathy, flute-like tone with fewer overtones — the opposite of sul ponticello. Debussy and Ravel used it frequently for impressionistic textures.
More articulation terms
Sul ponticello
View all articulationterms →On the bridge; bowing near the bridge for a glassy tone.
TremoloRapid repetition of a single note or alternation between two notes.
ArcoWith the bow; resume bowing after pizzicato.
LegatoSmooth, connected
VibratoA slight, rapid oscillation of pitch to enrich the tone.
Compare with similar terms
v1 · 10/04/2026Browse all terms →