How to say 'Piezo'
<p>Many of the pickups we use on upright bass use a <b>piezo-electric </b>element to produce sound. A piezo-electric element is a means for creating an electrical signal, usually by combining a crystalline substance with a ceramic, and connecting wires to capture the electrical reaction which occurs when pressure is applied.</p>
<p>Most of us shorten "Piezo-electric" to "Piezo," for the sake of convenience. But a lot of us say it wrong; some unintentionally reverse sounds (PEE zee oh) and some make a long "I" sound (PIE zoh). Some people make a soft "z" sound (like "zing") and some people make it a hard "z" (like pizza or pizzicato). I've heard plenty of other permutations, too.</p>
<p><b>Chuck Israels</b>, the amazing and very well-traveled bassist, insists on the "PIE-zo" pronunciation in <a href="https://youtu.be/Ht0j8vIysgw?si=HSJKGt37SsJ6yLt2&t=546" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this wonderful interview</a> - and far be it from me to disagree with such a luminary (especially since he's got <b>our "BASS" sticker</b> in plain view on the cabinet in the lower left of his screen) - but most <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/piezo-" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dictionaries</a> agree that the correct pronunciation (in the USA, at least) is:</p>
<p><font size="5"><b>pee AY zo</b></font></p>
<p>... coming from the Greek <i>piezein</i> meaning "to press." So, long "E", accenting the second syllable with a long "A" sound, and a soft "Z" with a long "O" sound.</p>
<p>That's the one I'm going with, anyway!</p>
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