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Understanding musical signs and symbolsOrnaments

Composers use a range of signs and symbols to convey how they want their music to be played. Understanding these will help you perform more accurately and with more style.

Part of MusicUnderstanding music

Ornaments

Ornaments are extra notes which decorate the music.

You will learn about some ornaments, such as trill and grace notes, in your Understanding music work.

Trill

A trill is rapidly moving between the written note and the one above.

Trill symbol - a lower case 't' and 'r' with a wavey line to the right located above the lines

Withouttrill

Withtrill

Grace note

Grace note - smaller than other notes and with a score through the stem of the note

A grace note is played really quickly before the main note.

Grace notes on a piano

Grace notes on a violin playing 'Auld Lang Syne'

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