pincé

Pincé is a French term commonly used in music, particularly in string instrument playing, to describe a harmonic produced by lightly touching a string at a specific point while it is bowed or plucked. This technique creates a clear, bell-like tone that is higher in pitch than the fundamental note of the open string. The precise location of the touch determines the resulting harmonic.

In bowed string instruments like the violin, viola, cello, and double bass, the player uses the fingertip of one hand to lightly press the string against a specific fret position (though frets are not present on these instruments, specific points along the fingerboard correspond to these harmonic nodes). The bow then strikes the string. For plucked instruments, the string is touched at a harmonic node point before being plucked.

Pincé harmonics are not to be confused with natural harmonics, which are produced by touching the string at specific points without any finger pressing it down. The pincé technique allows for greater control and can be used to produce harmonics on stopped notes, not just open strings. Composers often use pincé harmonics to add a shimmering or ethereal quality to their music, creating a distinct sonic texture. The term itself translates to "pinched" in French, alluding to the delicate touch required.