FR sur le chevalet bow contact point core term Support my free tools
at or near the bridge
How is sur le chevalet played?
Draw the bow at or very near the bridge. The contact point can emphasize upper partials and produce a bright, glassy, nasal or metallic colour, but bow speed and weight must be adjusted to the string and register. Follow any local contact-point scale or return instruction.
How does sur le chevalet sound?
More overtone-rich, bright, nasal or metallic string sound; the closer to the bridge, the stronger the sul ponticello effect.
In context
French sur le chevalet means “at or on the bridge” and is commonly used for the bridge-side effect corresponding to Italian sul ponticello and German am Steg. Write the French wording in full: s.p. is Italian-derived, and pont. is a local shorthand rather than an exact French abbreviation. Context determines whether the intended point is very near or literally on the bridge.
Equivalent terms
- IT sul ponticello
- DE am Steg
- DE nahe am Steg
- EN near the bridge
- EN at the bridge