Musical Phrasing

Definition

Musical phrasing refers to how a musician shapes and organizes a series of notes or chords to create expressive and meaningful musical phrases. It involves elements such as dynamics, articulation, and timing.

Analogy

Think of musical phrasing as storytelling through music. Just like how an author uses punctuation marks, pauses, and emphasis to convey meaning in writing, musicians use various techniques to shape their melodies and convey emotions.

Related terms

Dynamics: Dynamics refer to the volume or intensity of sound in music. They help create contrast and expressiveness within a piece.

Articulation: Articulation refers to how individual notes are played or sung. It includes techniques such as staccato (short and detached) or legato (smoothly connected) playing.

Tempo: Tempo is the speed at which a piece of music is performed. It affects the overall mood and energy level of the composition.