Which bowing technique produces a soft, airy tone?

• A. Sul ponticello
• B. Sul tasto
• C. Martelé
• D. Ricochet

Answer: (B)

Shaping tone color by where you bow on the string is what this item is testing. Playing sul tasto means bowing over the fingerboard with a light, floating stroke. This placement damps the string’s brighter overtones and encourages a softer, more singing, airy quality. The result sounds delicate and ethereal, like a whisper rather than a shout.

In contrast, other bowing styles yield noticeably different sounds: sul ponticello near the bridge produces a bright, edgy, glassy tone; martelé is all about a strong, accented, hammered attack; and ricochet creates a quick, bouncing, energetic effect. The soft, airy character is most closely linked to sul tasto because of the light touch and the natural muffling effect of bowing over the fingerboard.