legato
Tones without gaps
Legato is a musical direction meaning notes should be played smoothly and connected, without breaks between them—the opposite of staccato.
The term comes from Italian for "bound" or "tied." As an adverb or adjective, it describes this flowing style: Play this passage legato.
As a noun, it names the technique itself: Her legato was flawless.
Insulting group label
- tenutoHold full value
- portamentoSeamless pitch transition
- cantabileIn singing manner
- phrasingManner of expressing something
connected · binding · seamless · continuity · linearity · dolce · melodic · singable
Without roughness or difficulty
- flowingMoving continuously onward
- glidingEngineless aerial movement
- silkySmooth and lustrous
- fluidSubstance that flows
seamless · velvet · continuous · even · gentle · mellow · creamy · liquid
In singing manner
- dolceSoft, melodious instruction
- andanteWalking-pace tempo marking
- maestosoStately musical direction
- obbligatoRequired accompanying musical part
tranquillo · adagio · largo · moderato
Short, separated note style
- detachedApart or uninvolved
- marcatoEmphasized, detached playing
- spiccatoDetached bowing technique
- pizzicatoString-plucking technique
accented · choppy · separated · punctuated · percussive · disconnected · abrupt · clipped
slur
Insulting group label
- tenutoHold full value
- portamentoSeamless pitch transition
- cantabileIn singing manner
phrasing · connected · binding · seamless · continuity · linearity · dolce · melodic · singable · lyrical
smooth
Without roughness or difficulty
fluid · seamless · velvet · continuous · even · gentle · mellow · creamy · liquid · supple
cantabile
In singing manner
obbligato · tranquillo · adagio · largo · moderato
staccato
Short, separated note style
pizzicato · accented · choppy · separated · punctuated · percussive · disconnected · abrupt · clipped · bouncing
- vocal musicsong, vocals, soprano, tenor, alto
- classical music termspiano concerto, violin concerto, concerto, sonata, tone poem
- Bel CantoBellini, Rossini, Norma, coloratura, ornamentation
- cello worldYo-Yo Ma, pizzicato, arco, vibrato, harmonics
- musicmusic, song, songs, singing, singer
- classical musicBach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Brahms
- legal obligationDuty enforced by law
delegate, relegate, delegation, delegated, delegates, allegation, delegating, legatee, relegation