Staccato vs. Portato

Staccatonoun

(music) An articulation marking directing that a note or passage of notes are to be played in an abruptly disconnected manner, with each note sounding for a very short duration, and a short break lasting until the sounding of the next note; as opposed to legato. Staccato is indicated by a dot directly above or below the notehead.

Staccatonoun

(music) A passage having this mark.

Staccatonoun

(figurative) Any sound resembling a musical staccato.

Staccatoadverb

(music) played in this style

Staccatoadjective

(music) Describing a passage having this mark.

Staccatoadjective

Made up of abruptly disconnected parts or sounds.

Staccatoadjective

Disconnected; separated; distinct; - a direction to perform the notes of a passage in a short, distinct, and pointed manner. It is opposed to legato, and often indicated by heavy accents written over or under the notes, or by dots when the performance is to be less distinct and emphatic.

Staccatoadjective

Expressed in a brief, pointed manner.

Staccatoadjective

marked by or composed of disconnected parts or sounds; cut short crisply;

Staccatoadverb

separating the notes; in music;

Staccato

Staccato ([stakˈkaːto]; Italian for ) is a form of musical articulation. In modern notation, it signifies a note of shortened duration, separated from the note that may follow by silence.

Portatoadverb

(music) In an unconnected manner, as opposed to legato, but not as short as staccato.

Portato

Portato ([porˈtaːto]; Italian past participle of portare, ), also mezzo-staccato, French notes portées, in music denotes a smooth, pulsing articulation and is often notated by adding dots under slur markings. Portato is also known as articulated legato.