What is the difference between accent and staccato?

We all confuse accent and staccato at times.

When you first learn the meaning of each musical notation symbol, you're like, ``Hmm, I see.'' But when you see it in the score, you're like, ``Huh? How do you do that?'' ``An accent is the same as a staccato.'' "Isn't it?"

This time I will explain the differences between each and how to play each.

What do accent and staccato mean?

Don't you remember something like, "To play a staccato, play with a bouncy sound, and to play an accent, play strongly?"

First, let's review the meaning of each.

・What is staccato?

A term used to indicate that a note is played shorter than its original length. Indicate by putting (・) above or below the note. Or the abbreviation stacc is used.

Source: Music terminology dictionary

As you can see from the meaning, staccato does not mean "playing in a bouncy manner," but "playing a song shorter than its original length."

, it is a music score symbol that specifies " length of a note

・What is an accent?

Play with particular emphasis on the notes marked with the ``>'' accent mark (symbol). To emphasize something means to raise the volume. The sound is played at a particularly high volume, with the force (touch) of the finger on the piano, the bow on a stringed instrument, the speed of the breath on a wind instrument, and the force of the strike on a percussion instrument. Important. Either way, it's an advanced technique. This technique is difficult for beginners, and trying to create an accent can be quite a struggle. But I agree that this makes the melody more lively. This is an important element in order to create well-defined music.

Source: Music terminology dictionary

It's a bit of a long sentence, but there's a conclusion at the beginning of the sentence.

Accent is ``playing with emphasis on only that note.''

it is a music score symbol that specifies " loudness" of the sound

Summary

shorten the length of the note

increase the volume of the sound

is not it.

So, when actually playing on the piano, how should you play the notes differently?

How to play accent and staccato

Can you clearly distinguish between accent and staccato?

For example, if you try to play a staccato and hit the note too hard, or conversely, if you try to play an accent and the note bounces, it means that you are not playing the notes properly. Masu.

How to play staccato

First of all, regarding the meaning of staccato, be aware that the length of the note marked with this symbol is halved .

In other words, instead of just letting the notes bounce, you need to play a quarter note to an eighth note length, and an eighth note to a sixteenth note length.

At this time, if you get too caught up in shortening the notes, you will end up hitting the keys from a high place and adding unnecessary accents (making the notes louder).

you keep your wrists relaxed and grip the keys with your fingertips, you will be able to cut the notes cleanly.

How to play the accent

Next, regarding how to play the accent, if you are too conscious of playing strongly, the sound will be cut off by hitting the key from a high position, just like when playing the staccato.

This is a very bad example of trying to increase the intensity of a sound using arm strength alone.

If you want to play a particular note strongly, use your whole body to put your weight on the keyboard to create a deep, powerful sound.

By the way, as a practical matter, if the slur has an accent, do you know how to play it?

As before, it will be easier to play this if you use your whole body and put effort into each note.

Never turn off the sound because it has a slur. Practice over and over again to learn the tricks of how to apply your weight.