Staccato

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In musical notation, staccato indicates that notes are sounded in a detached and distinctly separate manner with their lengths shortened; that is, a short silence should be between the notes, without affecting the rhythm. Notes identified as "staccato" should be played or sung abruptly and short. Usually notated by a dot over the head of the note when the stem is downward, or by a dot below the head of the note when the stem is upward:

Playing staccato is the opposite of playing legato. A staccato passage for strings does not necessarily have to be pizzicato (though the converse is true). For example, Leroy Anderson's Jazz Legato/Jazz Pizzicato.

Audio examples

[The above music played without staccato] ([file info])
[The same music played staccato] ([file info])
[Bassoon articulations] ([file info])
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Staccato

Audio examples

See also