Learn the definition of articulation in music and see how different types of articulation are used by composers. Study articulation symbols for notes and phrases.
Articulation in Music | Definition, Symbol & Types
Table of Contents
- What is Articulation in Music?
- Types of Articulation in Music
- Articulation Markings for Single Notes
- Notation for Phrases
- Lesson Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
How can you show or play articulation in music?
Each specific type of articulation is meant to indicate a different performance style. Depending on the articulation over a single note or musical phrase, the performer will interpret those symbols into styles and note shapes. For instance, staccato markings indicate to play notes short and bouncy. If a performer sees staccato notes, they will play those notes accordingly.
What is meant by articulation in music?
Articulation is a word in music meant to describe the markings and notations that determine how notes and phrases are supposed to be played. Articulations are the punctuation of the musical language.
Table of Contents
- What is Articulation in Music?
- Types of Articulation in Music
- Articulation Markings for Single Notes
- Notation for Phrases
- Lesson Summary
Much like the spoken and written word, the language of music has grammar, vocabulary, syntax, and punctuation. What is articulation in the musical language? Articulation is the punctuation, a musical parameter that determines how a note or musical phrase should be played. Aside from just the music notes that indicate pitch, other markings and notations within the musical language can signal how to interpret the notes and chords (letters and words) on the page. Markings and notation categories could include:
- Articulation- the articulation music definition is much like punctuation in spoken language. In a way, articulation can indicate how long or short a note is to be interpreted (not pitch duration, which is indicated by rhythmic note value), but more specifically, it indicates how the note is to be shaped (bouncy, smoothly, tapered, connected, separated, heavy, light, etc.).
- Dynamics- dynamics in music signal how loudly or quietly a note or phrase is supposed to be played.
- Style and tempo markings- these notations are often in the form of expression words like accelerando (gradually speed up), rallentando (gradually slow down), and subito (suddenly change).
Composers will use articulations in music to give the music more expression and contrast. Notes or phrases (groups of notes or measures that form a complete musical thought together) marked with articulations will have various textures, lengths, and shapes. For example, if a composer wrote four repeating quarter notes side by side with different articulation markings, each note would sound slightly different depending on the marking used even though the rhythmic note value is the same (1 beat).
Articulation symbols in music are written above the note intended to be articulated. Some composers are very liberal with their use of articulations, while others notate articulation symbols sparingly, leaving more of the artistic interpretation up to the performer.
There are also types of articulations that are reserved specifically for one instrument type. Music articulation symbols called bow markings are used only for instruments of the string section, such as violin, viola, cello, and bass. Aside from these instrument-specific markings, articulation types apply to all instruments that utilize the western classical music language.
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Articulation Categories
In order to understand how articulations work, it is important to understand the difference between note length/shape and rhythmic note value. Rhythmic note value refers to the length of beats a note is to be held over time, such as a quarter note having the value of 1 beat over time or a half note having the value of 2 beats over time. Note length or shape, such as what is indicated by articulation, can vary even in notes of the same rhythmic value. A staccato quarter note will sound much shorter, bouncier, and more detached from its neighboring notes, while a tenuto quarter note will sound much longer, smoother, and more connected to its neighboring notes.
Articulation can also affect the weight or perceived dynamic level (loudness or quietness), as well as a note or phrase's relationship to surrounding notes and phrases. For example, articulation markings such as a tie will connect two or more notes of the same pitch together to create a newer, longer note value.
These three elements—length, dynamics, and relationship—make up the basic family of articulation notations in music.
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Types of articulations that affect length include:
- Staccato
- Staccatissimo
- Tenuto
Types of articulations that affect dynamics or weight of the notes include:
- Accent
- Marcato
- Portato (combination articulation)
Types of articulations that affect note relationships include:
- Legato (slur)
- Ties
- Portato (combined articulation)
Many of these articulation types can be combined together to create hybrid sounds. The portato is a combination of staccato markings inside a slur to indicate a pulsation or slight accent on each note with a staccato connected under the same slur. Other articulations specific to other instruments, such as a piano pedal suspension, or detache for string instruments, are essential for the performance of those instruments but unnecessary for any other instrument.
Articulation markings for single notes are notation symbols that only apply to one note at a time. Without the articulation symbol, the note would be played with a neutral articulation style or at the performer's discretion.
Unless a note is connected with a notation for phrases (slur, tie, portato), it will have its own separate note start (such as tongue start for wind instruments or an up bow or down bow for string instruments). Instruments such as piano have separate starts for each note regardless of articulation and must be very precise about whether to style notes separated or connected depending on the given articulation.
A staccato is a type of articulation for single notes that is notated by a small dot above or below the note head. It indicates to play the note in a short, bouncy, detached style. There will be audible space between the note and its neighboring notes.
A staccatissimo is a type of articulation for single notes that is notated by a symbol that resembles an exclamation mark without the dot. It indicates to play the note even shorter and more detached than the staccato.
A tenuto is a type of articulation for single notes that is notated by a long horizontal dash above or below the note head. It indicates to play the note long, smooth, and connected to its neighboring notes. There will be no audible silence or space between a tenuto note and its neighboring notes.
An accent is a type of articulation for single notes that is notated by a sideways V or horizontal wedge. It indicates to play the note with a strong weighted attack and a tapered finish, much like the sound of a chime or bell tone. Often, a regular accent articulation will have little audible space between its neighboring notes, but it is up to the performer how much separation occurs.
A marcato is a type of articulation for single notes that is notated by a vertical wedge or V above the note. It indicates to play the note with an even shorter, heavier attack than a regular accent. There will be audible silence between a marcato note and its neighboring notes.
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A musical phrase is a collection of notes or measures, such as a line of a melody from start to finish. No matter the length of a phrase, certain articulations can change the relationship of the notes in the indicated phrase. The following articulations can apply to at least two notes up to an unspecified number of notes.
A legato marking or slur is a type of articulation for phrases or multiple notes that is notated by a curved line above or below the note heads. It indicates to connect or play notes of differing pitches together to make a smooth unbroken sound. Depending on the instrument, the starting note will have a definite start (with a tongue or bow action), while the rest of the notes in the slur will only change pitch by changing the mechanism or fingering of the instrument. The start of each slur line touches the first note of the slur, and the end of the line touches the last note to be connected.
A tie is a type of articulation for phrases or multiple notes of the same pitch. It is notated by a curved line that looks and functions much like a legato marking. The tie transforms smaller note values of the same pitch into a combined larger value. For instance, if 4 E-flat quarter notes worth 1 beat each are tied together, the new note value is a longer 4 beat E-flat sound.
Articulation is the punctuation of the musical language, a musical parameter that determines how a note or musical phrase should be played. Articulation markings can be used for individual notes, but can also apply to an entire musical phrase or group of notes. Some articulation markings are only used for specific instruments, such as bow markings for string instruments. Articulation markings can affect length, dynamics, and relationship of the notes. Common articulation types include:
- staccato is notated by a small dot above or below the note head. It indicates to play the note in a short, bouncy, detached style.
- tenuto is notated by a long horizontal dash above or below the note head. It indicates to play the note full value, smooth, and connected to its neighboring notes.
- staccatissimo is notated by a symbol that resembles an exclamation mark without the dot. It indicates to play the note even shorter and more detached than the staccato.
- accent is notated by a sideways V or horizontal wedge. It indicates to play the note with a strong weighted attack and a tapered finish.
- marcato is notated by a vertical wedge or V above the note. It indicates to play the note with an even shorter, heavier attack than a regular accent.
- legato marking or slur is notated by a curved line above or below the note heads to connect or play notes of differing pitch together to make a smooth unbroken sound.
- tie is a type of articulation for phrases or multiple notes of the same pitch. The tie transforms smaller note values of the same pitch into a combined larger value.
Video Transcript
What Is Articulation?
When you listen to music, you hear changes in tempo, rhythm, and in the character of the sound. For instance, does the musician hit a series of notes loudly and then back off or begin softly and build up to a large sound? Musicians know where and when to make such changes because of articulation.
Articulation in music refers to how specific notes or passages are played or sung. Composers and arrangers provide articulation directions in the form of written notation, symbols placed above or below notes. Some articulation, like bowing and plucking marks for strings, is exclusive to specific instruments. For example, seeing the abbreviation pizz on the music means pizzicato, which signals to pluck rather than bow the strings. Seeing the word arco means to return to normal bowing methods. Brass and woodwind players would never see these markings on their music!
Other musical notations are used for all types of music and instruments. They may be written for individual notes or for a longer musical passage. Let's look at a few examples, beginning with articulation marks for single notes.
Articulation Marks for Single Notes
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In this image, these notes include specific marks for different articulations. At the far right, a line over or under the body of a single note means it is to be played tenuto or held to its full value. A single dot above or below the body of a note means it's staccato, or short and separate. Even the word staccato sounds edgy and precise. It's very much the opposite of tenuto. For extremely short notes, a mark that looks like a triangular wedge or exclamation point without the dot is called a staccatissimo. It's even shorter and edgier than staccato.
An upside down 'V' over a note signals that it's to be played marcato, which tells the musician to strongly emphasize the note, putting power into it. In a line with one note articulated with a marcato, that note is meant to stand out. A sideways 'V' that looks similar to a greater than symbol is an accent, which also places more emphasis on a note. One clarification here: A marcato signals to hit a note strongly and back off immediately. At first, it's more emphasis than an accent, but it isn't held out as long as an accented note.
Other articulation marks for single notes tell the singer or player to manipulate the note with trills, where a player quickly goes back and forth from the written note to the note above it, and other kinds of musical ornamentation. Such notations make individual notes more decorative or embellished.
Notation for Phrases
Some articulation is designed for whole groups of notes. A long sideways angle with the point aimed left (sometimes referred to as a hairpin) is called a crescendo. When placed under a group of notes, it tells you to gradually play louder as the passage moves forward. A long sideways angle that open at the left and closes to a point at the right (in other words, the mirror image of the crescendo mark) is a diminuendo or decrescendo. As the opposite of a crescendo, it tells you to gradually play softer as the passage moves forward.
A curved line that connects notes of the same pitch within or across a bar line is called a tie. It tells the musician to connect the notes and play them as one smooth tone. In our crescendo-decrescendo illustration, the musical passage has an example of a tie. Notice the curved line connecting two notes in the second measure.
A curved line connecting a group of different or many notes, meanwhile, is called a slur. The curved line tells the musician that all the notes in a passage should be performed legato, or smooth and connected without separating individual notes.
These are just a few examples of marks that identify articulation. Working to understand all the different notations for articulation is like learning a whole new language. The more you understand, the better a musician can sing or play. Mastering articulation enables musicians to make beautiful music!
Lesson Summary
Let's take a couple of moments to review what we've learned about articulation and its types, as well as its notation. Articulation in music means how certain notes or passages are sung or played. Written music includes a vocabulary of specific marks to guide musicians in performance. There are articulation marks for single notes and for musical phrases. Some articulation notations like pizzicato and arco are for specific types of instruments, with the former being to pluck rather than bow the strings and the latter to return to normal bowing methods. In this case, the turns are for stringed instruments, telling players to pluck or bow the strings.
A line over or under a single note means it is to be played tenuto, meaning held out to its full value. A dot over or under a note is a staccato, telling the musician to perform it short and separate from the next note. An upside down 'V' signals a note played marcato, or march-like, with strident emphasis. The player hits it and backs off. A sideways 'V' similar to a greater than symbol is an accent. It gives a note emphasis, though not as much as a marcato. An open angle or hairpin that starts small and grows larger is a crescendo and tells the musician to get louder as the passage moves along. An open angle or hairpin that starts large and gets smaller is a decrescendo or diminuendo, and it signals to get softer as the passage moves forward.
A curved line over or under two or more notes of the same pitch is a tie, and it signals to keep the notes smooth and connected. A curved line over or under a group of notes is called a slur. It means to play the whole group of notes as legato, meaning in a smooth, connected manner.
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