Hand Positions:
Half and 1st position:
Octave position:
Thumb position:
Stopping the string vibrating
Damps the sound. Notated: damped. Can be done discreetly with a sliding motion.
Stopping the string:
Vibrato/non vibrato
Pitch undulation created by motion of the wrist and finger. Not normally
notated, but if extra vibrato is required, indicate molto
vib under note(s). Vibrato is inherent to a player's technique and each
player executes variable amounts depending upon interpretative intentions.
It is possible to execute vibrato on open strings, but this
is not normally done unless specifically requested. Non vibrato must
be specified. Players will sometimes add tiny amounts of vibrato even
to passages marked non vib depending on musical interpretation.
molto vib.
non vib.
Portamento
A slide from one pitch to another, usually stopping for moment either above or below the destination pitch. Essentially an expressive device which was very popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries, but has more recently fallen into disuse.
Portamento
Harmonic glissando
A continuous slide while lightly touching string(s). The pitches are distinct and can be controlled to a fair extent. Nevertheless, this is an effect that works best done quite quickly.
Trill
A rapid alteration between two pitches either a tone (major trill)
or a semitone (minor trill) apart. This shows a minor trill followed
by a major trill, indicated by accidentals over the note. If these are
not given, players will choose trill type based on musical context.
The wavy lines indicating duration of trill are also optional. In highly
chromatic music, it is a good idea to specify the pitch onto which the
trill is made in brackets after the note.
Trills
Fingered Tremolo
A trill between two notes more than a tone apart. This is an unmeasured tremolo and lasts two beats. A measured tremolo is simply an alteration between the two notes in regular note values and is usually notated as such.