Piano for Beginners 6th ED - 2016 UK

I

n the same way that dynamics, tempo and

articulations all layer up to create marvellous

music, ornaments simply add to this with little

quirks and fiddly bits that enhance the tune.

They’re easy to recognise and you might find that

the hardest part is getting your fingers around them

on the piano keys!

Ornaments are noted as small symbols above

specific notes. There are four kinds that you need

to know. Start with a trill, which is really simple –

play the note and the note above it alternately in

quick succession. Next is a turn, which is also easy.

It’s four notes: the note above, the main note, the

note below and the main note again. Then there’s a

mordent, which has three notes. There are two kinds

of mordent – upper and lower. For upper mordents

you play the main note, then the note above it, then

the main note once more. Lower notes have the

same principle; you play the note below the main

note in the middle. The last ones are grace notes.

These are single-note ornaments that appear on the

stave as ‘mini notes’ next to a main note. There are

two categories: acciaccatura and appoggiatura.

All ornaments must be played to the duration of

the note they’re assigned to. For example, a trill on

a quaver/eighth note must last no longer than the

quaver/eighth note’s beat.

Use musical

ornaments

Learn about these extra pieces of musical goodness

used to decorate a tune

Beautify the notes

Know your symbols to create intricate and flamboyant melodies

01 Acciaccatura

This type of grace note is symbolised by a mini quaver/eighth note with a slash

through the tail. It is sometimes referred to as a ‘crushed note’ as it is played as

quickly as possible before the note in front of it.

03 Trills and turns

To play a trill (left), alternate quickly between the main note and a whole or

half-step above. To play a turn, quickly play the note above, then the main note,

then the note below and then the main note again.

02 Appoggiatura

These grace-note ornaments are similar to acciaccaturas, however they fall on

the beat of the note, not before it. An appoggiatura can consist of one or more

notes and their symbol is the same but without a slash.

04 Mordents

These are upper (bar 1) and lower (bar 2 ) mordents. An upper mordent consists

of two main notes sandwiched around a note that’s a whole step lower. A lower

mordent is the same, but with a note higher in the middle.