Estimated reading time 2 minutes
Table of Contents
You Can Blame Mozart That Legato Notes Can Be Played Staccato
How can you make a note be long and short simultaneously? How can legato notes be played staccato? Mozart created a mixed staccato/legato notation to use in his piano pieces, and it still confuses musicians to this day. Read more to answer the question, “how can legato notes be played staccato?”
This post uses technical musical terms. For definitions, see the Glossary at the end of the article.
How Legato Notes Can Be Played Staccato: Exploring the Notation
Mobile users: for best results reading the music, tilt your screen 90o to the right.
How can legato notes be played staccato? Gardener Read (in his handbook Music Notation) explains, “When [staccato] marks are combined with slurs, the result is more psychological that actual. That is, the combination suggests a quality of sound, rather than indicating it exactly” (269).
Look at the music example above, the first bar shows the notated version while the second bar shows how you’d play it. You can see that the staccato dots do create a break between each note. However, you’ll play the breaks lazily, more like sixteenth note rests than true staccato.
The example below gives another common use of the notation. Bar 1 shows a slur leading into a staccato dot. Bar 2 shows you how it would be played. Basically, you’d play the notes legato right into the F note. However, the F will be shortened to a true staccato length.
In other words, the staccato in the second example will have more “bounce” than you’d use while performing the first example. So, yes, legato notes can be played staccato… ish. What you might think of as semi-staccato.
Concluding Thoughts to “How Can Legato Notes Be Played Staccato?”
If you felt confused when you first saw legato and staccato combined, don’t think you’ve been the only one who’s felt this way. Generally, this notation makes people’s eyes cross.
However, once the notation has been explained, it’s easy to see how legato notes can be played staccato-ish. Have fun playing!
Related Content
- How Does Your Brain Learn to Play the Piano with Two Hands?
- Ways Around the Difficulty of Playing the Piano Due to Short Fingers and Small Hands
- How to Overcome the Fear of Performing in Front of an Audience
- Why It’s So Hard for Someone with a Good Ear to Learn Sheet Music
- Why Do Minor Keys Sound Sad to Me?
- Do I Really Have to Learn Music Theory to Learn How to Play Piano?
- Why Do Pianists Occasionally Play Their Hands at Different Times as They Perform
- What Are the Small “>” Signs Above or Below the Notes?
- After They Can Sight-Read What’s Left for Musicians to Learn?
© 2023 Geoffrey Keith
Join me for in-person or online lessons today!
Back to the All-Purpose Music Tips and Topics category blogs page
Glossary
After They Can Sight-Read What’s Left for Musicians to Learn?
After they can sight-read what’s left for musicians to learn? Lots of thing spring to mind, such as: repertoire, memorized repertoire, interpretation, performance practice, improvisation, composition, music theory, and music history. Click to find out about what’s left for musicians to learn after they can sight-read. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Read More
How Do I Switch from Chromatic Shaped Notes to Standard Notation – Part 3
Do you want to learn how to transition from shape notes to standard notation? Have you ever wondered when you should use the special solfege syllables for sharp and flat notes? Standard notation gives you clues on when to use the diatonic solfege syllables versus the chromatic syllables. Read more to learn the answer to the question, “How do I switch from chromatic shaped notes to standard notation?” Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
Read More
Jam Like a Rock Star with Open E Tuning
Are you tired of your band sounding out of tune? Can’t get the classic rock sound when jamming with your group? Read more to learn how to jam like a rock star with open E tuning. You will also learn the song “Gimme Shelter.” Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
Read More
What Precisely Is the Purpose of Solfege?
“What precisely is the purpose of solfege?” Solfege has an important role in music education, allowing vocalists to develop sight singing skills. A solfege syllable acts as a mnemonic device to help you sight read sheet music. Read more to learn why they invented solfege and how the syllables work. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
Read More