Arco – An instruction given to string players to use the bow

(Pronounced aa-koh)

To remember what arco means use the following mnemonic:

For this section, arc over (arco) the strings using the bow.

This instruction would be given to string players after playing pizzicato (plucking the strings). Arco is the most common style of playing stringed instruments such as violins, violas and cellos.

Examples of arco in a sentence

The sheet music had an arco notation.

For the next section, an arco instruction was given.

I used my bow when I saw the word arco on the sheet music.