portamento
Smooth note transition
Portamento is a smooth, continuous glide between two musical pitches, common in singing and string playing.
Unlike a discrete jump from one note to another, portamento slides through the intervening frequencies: The vocalist's portamento gave the phrase an aching quality.
The technique appears in jazz, opera, and electronic music, where synthesizers can produce extreme pitch sweeps.
Vocal music-making
- tenorEssential meaning or import
- sopranoHighest female voice range
- baritoneMid-range male voice
- mezzo-sopranoMedium female singing voice
crooning · belting · aria · coloratura · vibrato · phrasing · cantabile · operatic
Rapid pitch sweep
- legatoUnbroken musical phrasing
- slurInsulting group label
- slideSmooth continuous movement
- glideMove with effortless continuity
sweep · transition · scoop · smear · connection · smoothness · continuity · fingering
Bowed string instrument
- celloDeep-voiced bowed instrument
- tromboneSlide-operated brass instrument
- synthesizerElectronic sound-generating instrument
- thereminGesture-played electronic instrument
fretless · strings · bowing · fingerboard · brass · woodwind
Complex psychological state
- nuanceSlight shade of difference
- lyricismExpressive, melodic quality
- phrasingManner of expressing something
- interpretationAssigned meaning
sensitivity · elegance · soulfulness · warmth · melancholy · subtlety · gracefulness · artistry
singing
Vocal music-making
mezzo-soprano · crooning · belting · aria · coloratura · vibrato · phrasing · cantabile · operatic · melisma
glissando
Rapid pitch sweep
glide · sweep · transition · scoop · smear · connection · smoothness · continuity · fingering · bowing
violin
Bowed string instrument
- celloDeep-voiced bowed instrument
- tromboneSlide-operated brass instrument
- synthesizerElectronic sound-generating instrument
theremin · fretless · strings · bowing · fingerboard · brass · woodwind
emotion
Complex psychological state
- nuanceSlight shade of difference
- lyricismExpressive, melodic quality
- phrasingManner of expressing something
interpretation · sensitivity · elegance · soulfulness · warmth · melancholy · subtlety · gracefulness · artistry · yearning
- musicianshipsinging, playing, performing, practicing, harmonizing
- singing termsduet, aria, hum, alto, soprano
- vocal musicsong, vocals, soprano, tenor, alto
- operaopera, aria, arias, soprano, tenor
- guitar techniquesshredding, fingerpicking, bends, arpeggios, hammer-on
- musical expressiondynamics, articulation, phrasing, rubato, expression