User manual

Table Of Contents

Articulations

Articulations are markings that are drawn above or below notes and chords. Articulations tell a

performer how to attack a note or how long to play a note relative to its notated duration.

In Dorico SE, articulations are dened as something that alters the way a note is played, in a way

that is consistent across all instruments.

As instructions like bowing directions, harmonics, or tonguing apply to different instrument

groups, in Dorico SE such directions are dened as playing techniques, and can be found in the

Notations panel on the right of the window.

Articulations are categorized into the following types:

Articulations of force

Indicate a stronger attack at the start of notes, and include articulations such as accent

and marcato. Marcato is also sometimes known as a “strong accent”. Dorico SE shows

these articulations at the start of a note or tie chain by default.

Articulations of duration

Indicate a shorter duration than notated, and include articulations such as

staccatissimo, staccato, tenuto, and staccato-tenuto.

Staccato-tenuto is also sometimes

known as a “louré”. If a note includes ties, Dorico SE shows articulations of duration

above the last note in the chain by default.

Articulations of stress

Indicate notes that should be emphasized or not emphasized where that contradicts

the prevailing meter, using stressed and unstressed marks. Dorico SE shows these

articulations at the start of a note or tie chain by default.

You can nd articulations at the bottom of the Notes panel in Write mode.

Dorico SE positions articulations automatically on the notehead or stem side of notes and chords,

according to the musical context. A note or chord can display one of each of the three types of

articulations.