I’ve never read sheet music written for strings, so I don’t know how this is noted. When attending some classical music performances, you occaisionally see the string section plucking their instruments. Is there a special notation for this or does the composer just write a very short note, e.g., a 32nd note or something?
Pizzicato is usually indicted by a " over the notes.
Or a Pizz written on the piece, and an Arco when bowing is to be resumed.
Simple enough. Thanks to you both.
Maybe in Australia… 
I have a degree in music composition, and the last time I checked, it was a small ‘v’ over the notes to be plucked. However, it’s correct that a long section of pizzicato is indicated by pizz at the beginning and arco when bowing is to be resumed.
Sorry to nitpick, but this is talking shop for me. 
- s.e.
Time to sell your shop, Canada-boy. “v” denotes an upbow, duh. Something is notated with an “x” where the note should be, but that might be hitting the strings with the opposite side of the bow (which as you can imagine, doesn’t come up that often.)
scott evil, I don’t know where you studied music composition, but, like voguevixen says, that “v” sure does not mean pizzicato.
There is no universally agreed-upon single-symbol notation for a one-note right-hand pizzicato. You pretty much have to write “pizz.” and then “arco” every time if you want to get your point across.
A “+” written over a notehead, however, is usually an indication of a left-hand pizzicato, at least in string music. It can mean different things for different instruments, though.
Oops. :eek: Fair enough, you’re both right. It’s been several years since I’ve written for strings, and I’ve blocked the whole ordeal out of my memory. ::runs away, cowering:: I remember now: v and the upside-down n for bowing. There’s no symbol for pizz itself, but pizz harmonics are indicated with a pizz indication along with an ‘o’ with a line through the top of the ‘o’. That’s where I got confused…
God, I hated writing for strings…
- s.e.