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Articulation

The manner in which individual notes are attacked, sustained, and released.

Category
performance
Pronunciation
ar-TIK-yoo-LAY-shun
Origin

Latin (articulatio, division into joints)

Length
137 words · 1 min read

About Articulation

Articulation determines the character and clarity of each note. Common articulation markings include staccato (short and detached), legato (smooth and connected), tenuto (held for full value), marcato (strongly accented), and accent (emphasised attack).
v1 · 10/04/2026Browse all terms →