Detached

As Printed on a Score

Printed above or below the passage it governs (detached, detached but not staccato), often over notes with no dots, and in force until a contrasting articulation appears. It asks for a separation between notes without the shortness of staccato.

How Composers Use It

Detached is the English non legato: each note separated by a small gap but keeping most of its length. Use the word when staccato dots would make the notes too short, especially in piano and string writing. Keep words and notation consistent; if you also add dots, players will read staccato.

Example

Warlock, Peterisms (first set), “A Sad Song”, piano, m. 21: “(detached but not staccato)” is printed with “ritenuto molto”, drawing the distinction in words.

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