Final answer:
The Italian term for plucking the strings on a string instrument is pizzicato, which contrasts with arco, where the bow is used. Pizzicato is used to add rhythmic and textural elements to music, and is separate from legato and staccato, which are terms describing how smoothly or sharply notes are played.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Italian term for string players to pluck the strings is pizzicato. This technique involves the musicians gently pulling and releasing the strings with their fingers, rather than using the bow, which is known as arco. Pizzicato produces a distinct, light, and percussive sound that can be used to add texture and rhythm to a piece of music. In contrast, legato indicates a smooth and connected style of play, where notes are played or sung smoothly and connected with no interruptions, while staccato signifies a detached and sharp approach to playing notes, where each note is played briefly and separated from the next with silence. Medieval music often featured plucked string instruments like the lute and psaltery, an ancestor to modern plucked and strummed instruments such as the guitar. Within the guitar, the resonating body amplifies the air inside the guitar, creating the instrument's sound, which is influenced by the surrounding environment or the air surrounding the guitar, but not by the ground beneath the musician.