Glissando: sliding between notes
A glissando is a slide from one note to another, either through every note in between or in a continuous glide. It is often written as a wavy or straight line between two notes, with the abbreviation gliss.
Glissando (say glee-SAHN-doh) comes from the French glisser, to slide, given an Italian ending. It describes a rapid slide from one pitch to another, passing through the pitches in between. The word is usually shortened to gliss. in scores. Glissandi can be quick and flashy or slow and expressive.
How is a glissando written?
A glissando is shown by a line joining two notes. The line may be straight or wavy, and it often carries the word gliss. above it. The first and last notes are written, and the player slides between them. When a composer wants a specific set of notes, such as a scale, they may write it out or put the scale name on the part.
How do you play a glissando on different instruments?
- Piano: Slide the back of your fingernail across the white keys, up or down. A glissando on the piano is a series of separate notes, because the keys can only play fixed pitches. Pianists use the thumb or the first finger, and the sound should be even.
- Harp: The player brushes the fingers across the strings. Harp glissandi are a signature sound, and the harp can be set to any scale, with pedals, for a rich wash of sound.
- Strings (violin, cello): Slide the finger along the string while the bow keeps sounding. This produces a smooth, continuous slide through every pitch.
- Trombone: The slide moves smoothly, giving a continuous glissando. This is a classic trombone sound in jazz and orchestral music.
- Voice: Singers glide from one pitch to another, usually called portamento, though the idea is similar.
What is the difference between glissando and portamento?
The two words overlap. A glissando is usually a quick, large slide, often made to be heard as a flourish. Portamento is a smaller, more expressive slide between two notes, usually in singing or string playing. On instruments with fixed pitches, such as piano and harp, only a glissando through the steps of a scale is possible. On instruments with continuous pitch, such as trombone, violin and voice, both ideas can be played. Some writers use the terms loosely, so look at the style and the notation.
| Term | Typical sound | Common instruments |
|---|---|---|
| Glissando | A fast slide through pitches | Piano, harp, trombone, strings |
| Portamento | A smaller, expressive slide | Voice, violin, cello |
| Slur | Connected notes without a slide | Any instrument |
What is a famous glissando?
Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue opens with a clarinet glissando that rises through a long run. The sound is playful and bold and it signals the jazz style of the piece. Harp glissandi are a common touch in orchestral music for dreamy or magical moments.
Practice tip: On the piano, relax your arm. Let the weight of the hand glide along the keys. Do not press hard, since that can hurt the nail and make the sound uneven.
When do composers use glissando?
Composers use it to create excitement, humor or surprise, as in jazz, film music and circus tunes. It can also create a sweeping, romantic feeling in a harp passage. In popular music, guitarists slide a finger up the string for a bluesy sound. Compare this with a slur, where notes connect without a slide.
Check yourself
1. What does a glissando do?
Answer: Slides between notes. It is a slide from one pitch to another.
2. Which instrument can play a truly continuous glissando?
Answer: Trombone. Piano keys have fixed pitches, so the piano plays separate notes.
3. What is the abbreviation for glissando?
Answer: gliss.. It is written above the line between notes.
4. Which famous piece opens with a clarinet glissando?
Answer: Rhapsody in Blue. Gershwin's piece opens with a clarinet slide.