Knowra Legato Legato Legato is a musical articulation in which successive notes connect smoothly, with no perceptible silence between them. It can be produced by different techniques depending on the instrument or voice.
Slur : A curved notation mark indicating that a group of notes should be connected smoothly or, for some instruments, played in one bow or breath. A slur commonly marks legato phrasing in written music.
Musical articulation : The manner in which notes are performed, including their attack, duration, separation, and connection. Legato is one specific way of articulating notes.
Bel canto : A tradition of Italian vocal technique emphasizing beauty of tone, agility, and controlled singing. Its vocal ideals include sustained, smoothly connected melodic lines.
Non legato : An articulation in which notes are separated slightly but remain fuller than staccato notes. It creates a modest gap where legato connects notes continuously.
Portamento : A continuous glide in pitch between two notes. Some voices and instruments connect legato notes with an audible pitch glide.
Note : A musical sound with a particular pitch and duration, or the symbol that represents it. Legato describes the relationship between successive notes.
Piano technique : The physical and interpretive methods used to play the piano. Pianists create legato through coordinated finger changes and timing.
Tenuto : An articulation directing a performer to sustain a note for its full value or with emphasis. Tenuto concerns the weight or duration of a note, not necessarily smooth connection.
Bow stroke : A single movement of a string instrument's bow across its strings. String players often connect legato notes within one bow stroke.
Pitch : The perceived highness or lowness of a sound, corresponding closely to its fundamental frequency. Legato connects notes that may differ in pitch.
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