sul tasto - Special playing styles - Philipp Dangas

Description of the playing technique sul tasto

If the point of attack of the bow is moved to the end of the fretboard, the sound becomes weaker and softer.

Reason for the sound produced with sul tasto:

The sound-sharpening overtones are suppressed. The sul tasto is used as a melodic means of expression to color the sound. The sul tasto can also be performed in such a way that when the bow is attacked, its upper octave (including the twelfth ) sounds at the same time as the fingered note, so that the note sounds soft like a flute. This type of execution is also called „flautato“ or „flautando“.

sul tasto as part of the „symphonic world music“

The relocation of the contact surface of the bow on the fingerboard means the possibility, in a cautiously operating set of instruments, to let the otherwise sound-sharpening high overtones of the violins sound softly and almost vaguely in the orchestra, without losing their recognition value.

Key data of the playing technique sul tasto

Designation:

English: over the fingerboard
Italian: sul tasto

Technology:

The bow sweeps the strings over the end of the fretboard

Result:

Quiet, covered sound.

Notation:

on the fretboard or sul tasto indication on the staff.