Slurs, Ties & Phrase Marks
Three curved lines that all look similar on the page but mean very different things. Toggle the slur below and hear a melody go from choppy to smooth.
Slur vs. tie: the key difference
Both look like a curved line under or over notes — the difference is entirely about pitch. A tie connects two notes of the same pitch, merging them into a single longer sound. A slur connects two or more different pitches, telling the performer to play them smoothly connected — one continuous gesture instead of separate, detached attacks.
Phrase marks: the bigger picture
A phrase mark looks identical to a slur but stretches over a much longer span — a whole musical sentence rather than just two or three notes. It shows a singer where to breathe, a string player where a bow stroke naturally begins and ends, or simply where one musical "thought" finishes and the next begins.
Common questions
What is the difference between a slur and a tie?
A tie connects two notes of the same pitch into one sound. A slur connects different pitches, telling the performer to play them smoothly connected.
How do you play notes under a slur?
Smoothly, with no gap between them — one breath or bow stroke for the whole group where possible.
What is a phrase mark?
A longer slur-like curve over a whole musical phrase, showing where a natural breath or shape begins and ends.
Can a slur cross a barline?
Yes — slurs and phrase marks often stretch across barlines to show the line keeps flowing despite the notation being divided into measures.
Hear phrasing, not just notes
Melody Monkey plays melodies back with real phrasing, so smooth and detached both sound the way they're written.
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