Blog Post

Pizz Perfect

Bob Good • 21 January 2021

Why we hear so much pizzicato on TV

You can often hear tracks with pizzicato strings used behind magazine programmes and documentaries.


There are no surprises there. The pizzicato technique necessarily produces a short note, and the shorter the note, the more it keeps out of the way of the human speaking voice.


But, as well as that, give some thought to how versatile a medium it is.

Used melodically, high short notes can convey images of little ones (animal or human) playing, discovering and learning. Lower short notes can give a lumbering, comedic effect.

Used chordally, they can invoke and enhance feelings of mystery, danger and the frisson of being up to no good.


In short, the atmosphere they create can be anything from airy / cheeky to moody / mysterious.


CLICK HERE to hear my Pizz Perfect Playlist. Some examples are solely strings, others have other instruments intermingled in some way.


These cover the comedy scenarios (penguins in the snow, young animals playing, slow-wittedness etc.):-

A First Journey

A Ball Of String

Plodding Along


They cover the element of mystery:-

On The Prowl

Prowling Piano


And finally, some more general usages from the light to the dark, from the simple to the sophisticated:-

Playful Pizzicato

Careful As you Go

Ascent Of Venus


I hope you enjoy them. All tracks can be licensed for all uses either through me or through the Cinephonix library.

Bob Good has around 400 production tracks available exclusively on half a dozen libraries, including Cinephonix in the UK and Music For Productions in Canada. He prides himself on producing high quality music, recorded using real instruments.

Bob’s recent library placements include BBC ’s Masterchef, Autumn Watch, The One Show, Absolute Genius with Dick and Dom, ITV 's This Morning, Long Lost Family, Channel 4 ’s A Place In The Sun, Come Dine With Me, Channel 5 's Age Gap Love, Billionaire Babies, Netflix ’s Al Hayba, Discovery ’s British Treasure, American Gold, France 3 's Au Fil De La Durance, Canal Vie ’s Ex Au Defi and many more.

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