Staccato

nl:staccato

In musical notation, staccato indicates that notes are played in a detached and dinstinctly separate manner with their lengths shortened, that is a short silence should be between the notes. Notes identified as "staccato" should be played or sung abruptly and shortly. Usually notated by a dot over the note when at the top of the staff (third line and up) or by a dot below the note when at the bottom of a staff (third line and below):

The opposite term is legato.

Music samples

• The above music played without staccato (Vorbis format, 15 KB, 2 seconds)
• The same music, but played staccato (Vorbis format, 15 KB, 2 seconds)