5.6 Ornaments

Ornaments or embellishments are musical flourishes that are not necessary to carry the overall line of the melody (or harmony), but serve instead to decorate or "ornament" that line. In this chapter you will learn about the short and long appoggiatura, the trill and the mordent.

1. Appoggiatura

long appoggiatura the small note is played on the beat, borrowing its time from the following large note. short appoggiatura the small note is played very quickly, almost together with the following large note.

2. Trill

trill rapid alternation of the written note with the note above it.

3. Mordent

mordent alternates the written note with the tone below; played quickely written-note, lower-note, written-note.