In a descending stepwise staccato progression, the plucking finger and muting finger work together:

• the plucking finger bounces from one string to another, forming a series of firm and solid sounds
• the muting finger follows almost in a passive manner, only lightly supported

The following elements help you to do this with ease:

• pulling your arm from the shoulder-blade anchor towards the body
• flexibility in the shoulder-blade anchor
• low and bouncy jumping of the forearm and hand
• gently arched position of the fingers
• alternation between motor impulses and relaxing 

Before playing, it is advisable to activate the shoulder-blade anchor, for example, with the exercises that activate its support muscles (see Shoulder-blade anchor exercises). 

Example 1 (sliding)  

 The staccato progression is plucked here with two different fingerings: 2  and 3 .

• Pull your arm from the shoulder-blade anchor towards your body.
• The forearm bounces very low; the plucking finger only needs to rise a few millimetres from the strings.
• Both the plucking and muting finger should arch gently and remain slightly flexible.
• The muting finger barely makes independent movements; it should quite passively follow the plucking finger.
  • Try fingering 2  with upward plucking: pluck the notes with the 2nd finger and mute with the 3rd finger.

Example 2 (upward plucking) 

In this example, the thumb is plucking and the 2nd finger is muting.

• The shoulder-blade anchor provides strength as the forces of the thumb and arm movements act in different directions.
• Keep your shoulder-blade anchor activated.        
• Pull your arm actively towards your body.
• Natural counterforces act between the plucking thumb and the muting 2nd finger.
• The thumb plucks either towards the fingers or diagonally upwards.
  • Practise very slowly: pluck and bounce – drop – rest.
  • Feel how the hand relaxes.
  • Try different plucking angles and different grips; with practice, this technique can become quick and smooth.