Al tallone

As Printed on a Score

Printed above the string staff as al tallone at the passage to be played near the frog. It lasts until another bow-placement or bowing word (punta d’arco, ord.).

How Composers Use It

At the frog the bow has its greatest weight, so the sound is heavy, gruff and strongly attacked — good for accented down-bows, forceful repeated strokes and martelé. It tends to break notes apart, so it suits detached rather than sustained writing. The French equivalent, au talon, is also common in scores.

Related Terms