Explore Articulation Marks with music dictionary guides to staccato, legato, accents, tenuto, slurs, and expressive note shaping.
A phrase mark is a curved line placed above or below a staff that indicates the beginning and end of a musical phrase. It helps performers shape the music by showing how groups of notes should be connected and articulated as a single expressive unit.
A fermata is a musical notation indicating that a note, chord, or rest should be held longer than its written value. The exact duration is left to the performer’s discretion, often guided by the surrounding musical context.
A staccato mark is a small dot placed above or below a notehead indicating the note should be played short and detached, creating a crisp, punctuated sound.
A glissando is a continuous slide between two pitches, performed by moving smoothly across the pitch spectrum. In notation it is shown as a straight or wavy line connecting the notes to be slid.
Tremolo is a musical effect that creates a rapid repetition of a single note or a rapid alternation between two notes, producing a trembling sound. It is indicated by specific notation symbols and is used across a wide range of instruments and musical styles.
A trill is a rapid alternation between two adjacent notes, typically a semitone or whole tone apart, used as an ornament in various musical styles. It is notated with a wavy line and often a small note indicating the starting pitch.
Marcato is a musical articulation indicating a note should be played with a strong, accented emphasis, louder or more forceful than surrounding notes. It is not a dynamic marking but a directive for articulation.
A grace note is a short, ornamental pitch written in smaller note value that precedes the main note, adding expressive nuance without altering the underlying rhythm.