What is the squiggly line next to a chord called?

Arpeggio signs are vertical lines that indicate chords are to be played arpeggiated, or spread , so that the notes in the chord are played very quickly one after another. Arpeggio signs are normally shown with wavy lines similar to trill extension lines.

What does a squiggly line next to a chord mean?

Arpeggio: A squiggly vertical line in front of a chord means its notes are hit quickly in order, not simultaneously; to create a harp-like effect. Arpeggiated chords are usually played from low to high, unless marked by a downward arrow. An is a fast-moving arpeggio.

What does a zigzag line mean in music?

A squiggly or zigzag line in piano music can be a mordent (or shake), a trill, a glissando, or an arpeggiated chord. A squiggly or zigzag line in guitar music can mean to draw out a strum on the guitar.

What does squiggly horizontal line mean?

The standalone form of the symbol is used more widely. Informally, it means "approximately", "about", or "around", such as "~30 minutes before", meaning "approximately 30 minutes before".

What is the wavy line called?

It's called a tilde.

Building Chords, Easy Music Theory

What does the scribbly line mean?

It indicates that notes of the chord are played rapidly one after the other instead of simultaneously (like in a strummed chord).

What is a glissando in music?

“GLISSANDO. A term unfortunately used by composers anywhere but in Italy to indicate a rapid glide over the notes of a scale on keyboard instruments and the harp, as well as a slur with no definite intervals on strings and on the trombone.

What does the curved line mean in music?

A tie is a curved line that connects two notes of the same pitch. A tie means to hold the note for the combined rhythmic value of the two notes, as if they were one.

What does a mordent look like?

A mordent is sort of like a super-short trill. An upper mordent, indicated by a plain squiggle, means you'll do a quick turn between the note written, and an upper note. So if the note written is a “C”, you'll play an upper mordent like “C-D-C” very quickly.

What is a tilde symbol?

A tilde is a typographical symbol that resembles a wavy line (~). In English, it has no accepted usage in formal writing, but it may occasionally be used for a few different reasons in informal writing. This symbol is also used in math, computer programming, and to form certain letters in Spanish and Portuguese.

What is a glissando in piano?

In music, a glissando (Italian: [ɡlisˈsando]; plural: glissandi, abbreviated gliss.) is a glide from one pitch to another ( Play (help·info)). It is an Italianized musical term derived from the French glisser, "to glide". In some contexts, it is distinguished from the continuous portamento.

What is a mordant in music?

In music, a mordent is an ornament indicating that the note is to be played with a single rapid alternation with the note above or below. Like trills, they can be chromatically modified by a small flat, sharp or natural accidental.

What is a Nachschlag?

Definition of nachschlag

1 : a musical ornament consisting of one or several short unaccented grace notes attached to and played in the time of the preceding main note or tone. 2 : the auxiliary closing note or notes usually played at the end of a trill.

What does an appoggiatura look like?

An appoggiatura consists of a grace note followed by the main note. The grace note appears as a small note on the musical staff, and the main note appears as a full-sized note. In most cases, the two notes are connected by a slur marking.

What is the difference between a slur and a tie?

Both a slur and a tie is a curved line. When you see a curved line between two notes, check to see if the notes are of the same pitch or different pitches. If they are the same pitch, it's a tie. If they are different pitches, it's a slur.

What do curved lines mean in piano?

A curved line above or below a group of notes tells you those notes should be played legato – smoothly, with no gaps between the notes. A slur is a legato line over a few notes which means they should not be rearticulated.

What is a Tenuto marking?

Tenuto: A tenuto mark is the opposite of staccato. It indicates that a player should take care to play the full value of a single note. For instance, if you see a half note with a tenuto mark above it, be sure to let it ring for the full half-note duration before moving on to the next note.

What are glides in music?

glide2 noun [countable] 1 a smooth quiet movement that seems to take no effort2 technical the act of moving from one musical note to another without a break in sound3 technical a vowel which is made by moving your tongue from one position to another → diphthongExamples from the Corpusglide• See them nose the long ...

What is the difference between portamento and glissando?

Glissando is going through intermediate pitches musically. Portamento "carries" one pitch to another pitch: there is no interruption in tone and style and no "musical concept" of intermediate notes even though the execution might not be able to switch pitches instantly.

What do you call the sliding between two notes?

In music, portamento (plural: portamenti, from old Italian: portamento, meaning "carriage" or "carrying") is a pitch sliding from one note to another.

How do you notate a trill?

How to Notate a Trill When Writing Music. Typically, composers notate a trill by writing the letters "tr" directly above the principle note. Sometimes the "tr" is accompanied by a wavy line. Some trill notation consists of only a squiggly line and no "tr" sign at all.

What is a single trill called?

There is also a single tone trill variously called trillo or tremolo in late Renaissance and early Baroque. Trilling on a single note is particularly idiomatic for the bowed strings.

What is an arpeggiated chord on a piano?

An Arpeggio is any chord that is played one note at a time, instead of the usual way, which is by playing all of the notes at the same time by pressing on each of the keys simultaneously.