Articulation

Question 1

Staccato

Answer 1

-rapid, punchy melody
-short and detached/seperated notes
-each note is distinct from the next
-not about space between notes
-can use dramatic pauses, rhythmic effects with significant gaps to build tension or emphasize certain beats

Question 2

Legato

Answer 2

-playing notes smoothly and connected
-no breaks or gaps; seamless transitions
-note lengths do not matter; notes are connected or slightly overlapping
-used for creating lush, flowing lead lines, or pads
-can enhance atmospheric quality of a track and also evolving textures that blend
seamlessly

“No gaps, connected or overlapping, as long as you want”

Question 3

Accent

Answer 3

-playing a note with an extra emphasis
-Velocity
-Amplitude Modulation
-Modifying Harmonics
-Pitch Bend

Question 4

Ways to Layer Harmonics

Answer 4

-Octave Doubling
-Adding m3 or M3 and P5, or P8

Question 5

Ways to Add Harmonics

Answer 5

-Additional oscillators
-Waveform adjustments (Sine to sawtooth)
-open filter modulation and resonance
-Add slight overdrive/distortion to introduce harmonics
-Add complex waveforms such as square, sawtooth, or pulse

Question 6

Tenuto

Answer 6

-To hold a note for its full value, sometimes slightly longer, giving it a sustained emphasis
-Goal is to not cut the note short
-Whatever parameters you have preceding this note, you make sure they don’t cut this note short and let it play its full length

“Full value or slightly longer, sustained emphasis”

Question 7

Marcato

Answer 7

-Playing a note both loudly and with a clear detached emphasis

• Playing a note with more velocity and slightly more detached from each other
• Marcato is similar to Staccato, but played with greater emphasis and force - not as short, and louder

“Loudly and a clearly a bit more detached”

Question 8

Slur

Answer 8

-Playing a group of notes smoothly and connected in Legato fashion

Question 9

Portato
(M-Z)

Answer 9

-Staccato + Legato

-Gently separated notes
-Not short as Staccato but not fully connected like Legato

-AKA Mezzo-Staccato

Question 10

Trill

Answer 10

-Rapid alternation between two adjacent notes within 1 or two semitones
-connected and no gaps

• Creates a vibrating, fluttering sound, often used to add excitement or ornamentation to music
• Used on to add energetic effect to a lead or melodic line

Question 11

Tremolo

Answer 11

-Rapid repetition of a single note OR
-Rapid alternation between two notes that are more than a whole step apart
-With or without gaps between notes; densely packed

• Used in Breakdowns for atmospheric texture, and gradually noticeable
• Used in Build-ups with increasing intensity to add urgency and excitements, and can add tension before the drop

Question 12

Glissando

Answer 12

-Continuous slide upward or downward between two notes
-Creates a smooth, flowing transition that covers all intermediate notes between the start and end notes
-this is not playing a scale in stepwise fashion…
-Can be used to create dramatic transitions, build excitement, or add a flowing, sweeping effect to a melody or
baseline

-Bonus - Portamento is a glide but over a shorter distance of notes, like two notes

Question 13

Tremolo in Build-Up and Breakdowns

Answer 13

-Gradually decrease note length and increase frequency
-automate velocity increase