Legato

As Printed on a Score

Usually shown by slurs rather than the word; the word, or leg., appears where slurs would be impractical or to confirm the style over a passage — sempre legato, ben legato, molto legato. It lasts until non legato, staccato or another articulation. In piano music legato refers to the fingers; the pedal is marked separately.

Abbreviations: leg.

How Composers Use It

Legato is the default singing style — notes flow seamlessly into one another. On strings, it means keeping the bow moving in one direction. On wind instruments, it means tonguing only the first note of a phrase. When writing legato melodies, use slurs to show phrase groupings.

Example

Chopin's Nocturne in D-flat major, Op. 27 No. 2 — the right-hand melody is supremely legato, each note melting into the next.

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