User manual

Table Of Contents

Articulations are markings that are drawn above or below notes and chords. Articulations tell a

performer how to attack a note or how long to play a note relative to its notated duration.

In Dorico Elements, articulations are dened as something that alters the way a note is played, in

a way that is consistent across all instruments.

As instructions like bowing directions, harmonics, or tonguing apply to different instrument

groups, in Dorico Elements such directions are dened as playing techniques, and can be found

in the Notations panel on the right of the window.

Articulations are categorized into the following types:

● Articulations of force

Indicate a stronger attack at the start of notes, and include articulations such as accent

and marcato, which is sometimes called a strong accent. Dorico Elements shows these

articulations at the start of a note or tie chain by default.

●

Articulations of duration

Indicate a shorter duration than notated, and include articulations such as staccatissimo,

staccato, tenuto, and staccato-tenuto, which is sometimes called louré. If a note includes

ties, Dorico Elements shows articulations of duration above the last note in the chain by

default.

●

Articulations of stress

Indicate notes that should be emphasized or not emphasized where that contradicts the

prevailing meter, using stressed and unstressed marks. Dorico Elements shows these

articulations at the start of a note or tie chain by default.

You can nd the articulations at the bottom of the Notes panel in Write mode.

Dorico Elements positions articulations automatically on the notehead or stem side of notes and

chords, according to the musical context. A note or chord can display one of each of the three

types of articulations.