Cello Intermediate 30: Off the String Staccato

In this video, we are going to be talking about off the string staccato, which is also called spiccato.

In the Cello Basics series we looked at on the string staccato, where you stop the bow firmly on the string between notes. While that stroke is essential for all kinds of repertoire, we also need an off the string stroke. While advanced players develop rapid spiccato and sautillé strokes, our focus today is getting comfortable with a steady, middle-of-the-road bouncing speed.

Finding the bow's natural bounce point

The easiest way to learn spiccato is to let the bow do the work for you. Every bow has a balance point, usually located in the lower third of the stick because of the weight of the frog.

This balance point is your area of least resistance:

• Too close to the frog: the bow feels heavy, requiring excessive arm strength to lift and control.
• Too far towards the middle or tip: the sound becomes fluffy and thin, losing tone quality.
• At the balance point: the stick bounces naturally and effortlessly while maintaining a clear, resonant tone.

The "U" and the "V" strokes

Your 1st finger and pinky lead the direction of this motion. To shape the note, imagine drawing letters with the bow hair:

• The "U" shape: produces a rounder, warmer, and slightly broader stroke, dipping into the string and scooping back out like a gentle banana curve.
• The "V" shape: adds a crisp initial bite on the 1st finger before springing off, creating a very short, spiky attack.

From whole arm to wrist and finger action

When you start learning this movement, it is natural to use your entire arm to drop and lift the bow. However, using the whole arm is tiring and unsustainable at faster speeds.

To refine the technique, you want the motion to come primarily from the wrist and fingers:

• Keep the connection between the pads of your fingers and the stick firm and secure.
• Keep your upper knuckles and wrist flexible and shock-absorbing.

Practise isolating this right-left wrist motion by holding your right forearm still with your left hand, or having someone gently hold your arm in place while you bow.

Consistent contact point and string resistance

Ensure your contact point between the bridge and the fingerboard stays completely steady. Bouncing around on the string degrades the sound quality immediately. Once you are comfortable starting on a down-bow, challenge yourself by starting on an up-bow.

Remember that each string behaves differently. The higher strings, especially the A string, spring back readily with minimal effort. Lower strings, particularly the C string, have thicker wire and require deeper finger engagement and a bit more muscle to initiate the bounce cleanly.

A wonderful piece to practise this technique is "Barrel Dance" from It's a Cello Thing, Book 1. Start each phrase from the string, feel the bounce take over, and keep your wrist relaxed and fluid!