articulation explained
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A comprehensive guide to the techniques that control how individual notes are attacked and released.
Articulation refers to how a performer starts, sustains, and ends each note, fundamentally shaping the character of the music. The main articulation markings include: staccato (short and detached), legato (smooth and connected), tenuto (held for full value), marcato (strongly accented), accent (emphasised attack), and portato (slightly separated but not as short as staccato). Wind and brass players articulate using tongue techniques — single, double, and triple tonguing. String players use bowing articulations: détaché, spiccato, col legno, and various stroke types. Pianists control articulation through finger attack, weight, and pedalling. Articulation is one of the primary ways performers differentiate their interpretations of the same written score. Clear, varied articulation is essential for musical expression and is one of the first skills a student develops.