Pizzicato
The first recognised use of pizzicato in classical music is in Claudio Monteverdi's Il combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda (around 1638)
When we are not holding our bow, we will hold our instrument as shown to the left.Rest your right thumb on the edge of the fingerboard and use your index finger to pizz.
Some times when we are playing music, we only need to pizz. 1 or 2 notes and then go right back to using our bow. This is where the second method is used. While holding your bow, you should extend your index (or middle) finger to pizz. the string with the bow still in your hand. This takes some getting used to, and is best if practiced often.
How is it written?
When reading music, the terms used to designated pizzicato or bowing are as follows:
Pizz. = Pizzicato
Arco = Play with the bow
Pizz. = Pizzicato
Arco = Play with the bow