A slur is a symbol in Western musical notation indicating that the notes it embraces are to be played without separation (that is, with legato articulation). 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.
![{
\override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f \relative c'' {
a4( b c d e f g a)
}
}](http://up.wiki.x.io/score/k/s/ks1pcv04ict1e9e3mzwgmqa1bkl7ixo/ks1pcv04.png)
Prime functions of the slur in keyboard music...are to delineate the extent of a phrase line and to indicate the legato performance of melodies or arpeggiated chords.[1]
Both accents and slurs relate directly to woodwind articulation...(and brass as well) since they employ a variety of tonguing effects [which are indicated by use of, "the correct form," of accents and slurs].[2]
[With bowed string instruments] A curved slur over or under two or more notes indicates that these notes are to be connected...Slurs are only partially indicative of phrasing; if an actual phrase mark is necessary (to unite several bow-strokes into a larger melodic idea), it should be notated above the passage with broken lines.[3]
The example below shows two measures in 6
8 with a slur for each measure:
Performance
editSlurs mean different things for different instruments:
- For bowed string instruments, the notes should be played in one bow stroke.
- For plucked string instruments, such as guitars, the notes should be played without plucking the individual strings (hammer-ons and pull-offs).
- For wind instruments, the notes should be played without re-articulating each note (tonguing), except for the slide trombone (and other instruments that control the pitch with a slide), on which only certain kinds of combinations can be played with no tongue without making a glissando – thus "legato tonguing" is employed.[citation needed]
- For vocal music, slurs are usually used to mark notes which are sung to a single syllable (melisma).
A slur can be extended over many notes, sometimes encompassing several bars. In extreme cases, composers are known to write slurs which are near-impossible to achieve; in that case the composer wishes to emphasise that the notes should be performed with as much legato as possible.
See also
edit- Tie (music), a similar symbol but for connecting lengths of notes together
- Musical phrasing
References
edit- ^ Read, Gardner (1969). "Keyboard Notation", Music Notation, p. 314. Crescendo, Taplinger: New York. ISBN 0-8008-5453-5.
- ^ Read (1969). "Woodwind Notation", p. 347.
- ^ Read (1969). "String Notation", p. 402
- ^ Traum, Happy (1974). Bluegrass Guitar, p. 25. ISBN 0-8256-0153-3.