slur (music)

A slur is a symbol in Western musical notation indicating that the notes it embraces are to be played legato (smoothly). In music for bowed string instruments, it indicates the notes should be played in one bow; in music for wind instruments, that the notes should be played without using the tongue to rearticulate each note. In vocal music, slurs are usually used to mark notes which are sung to a single syllable. A slur is denoted with a curved line generally placed over the notes if the stems point downward, and under them if the stems point upwards: The slur is not to be confused with two other similar musical symbols. The tie is a curved line that links two notes of the same pitch to show that their durations are to be added together. The ligature or phrase mark is a curved line that extends over a passage, indicating that the passage is to be interpreted as a single phrase.

Slur (Music)

See also