Slurs

Slurs are curved lines placed above or below a group of notes to indicate legato playing; in music for strings, this means to play the slurred phrase with one bow stroke, and in vocal music this means to sing the slurred phrase on one breath. Slurs can also indicate expressive phrasing. In string music, if the composer wishes to suggest an expressive phrasing, this must be done in addition to the slurs which indicate bowing directions.

Table of Contents

Short Slurs
Long Slurs

SHORT SLURS

Short slurs appear like ties but have a completely different function. (see Ties)

Short slurs follow the direction of the notes they connect.
Ex.A

• To make the slur clear, it is better for it to extend a little outside of the staff than to be obscured by staff lines.

• When all stems are in the same direction, the slurs should be placed on the notehead side. Thus:
  Upward stems: slurs go above the notes.
  

  Downward stems: slurs go below the notes.

  

• If there is a mix of upward and downward stems, the slur always goes above the notes.
  

• Whole notes with slurs are treated as if they had stems.
  

• At the end of a line, slurs should not extend past the barline. If there is a change of meter at the end of the line, the slur still only extends to the barline.
  Ex.A

• At the beginning of the next line, the slur begins right after the clef. If there is a change of meter or at the beginning of the line, the slur begins right after the time or key signature.
  Ex.B

• Slurs often conflict with flagged notes. It is best to place slurs outside of the staff and away from the flags, for clarity.
  

With beamed notes:

• Slurs link the outside of beamed notes; ties link the inside of beamed notes.
  

• Only one slur is needed to indicate a slurred chord, but some publishers want every note slurred individually.
  

  When there are ties in the chord as well, the slurs and ties should cuve in opposite directions from each other.

  
  
  

LONG SLURS

Shape:

• Long slurs are shaped as straight lines with end bending at uniform angles towards the notes the slur connects.

  

  When to Use:

  • Long slurs are used to indicate long phrases.

  • Long slurs can never connect two notes of the ssme pitch.

    

  Placement:
  • Long slurs are placed the same way as short slurs, but they usually enclose all the ties, beams, articulations, fingerings, trills, etc. that are in the phrase.

  • Long slurs must start and end over or under the center of a notehead., or over the stem.

    

  • If a long slur ends in a tie, the slur extends past the tie (it does not stop when the tie begins).

    

  • Long slurs must have a definite place of ending.

    

  • Stacatto and tenuto marks are usually placed inside of the slur.

  • Accent marks can be placed inside or outside of the slur, depending on the position of the notes and the room that is available.

    
    
    

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