Slurs

Slurs are entered using parentheses:

     
     f4( g a) a8 b(
     a4 g2 f4)
     <c e>2( <b d>2)

Slurs may be manually placed above or below the notes, see Direction and placement.

     
     c2( d)
     \slurDown
     c2( d)
     \slurNeutral
     c2( d)

Simultaneous or overlapping slurs are not permitted, but a phrasing slur can overlap a slur. This permits two slurs to be printed at once. For details, see Phrasing slurs.

Slurs can be solid, dotted, or dashed. Solid is the default slur style:

     
     c4( e g2)
     \slurDashed
     g4( e c2)
     \slurDotted
     c4( e g2)
     \slurSolid
     g4( e c2)

Predefined commands

\slurUp, \slurDown, \slurNeutral, \slurDashed, \slurDotted, \slurSolid.

Selected Snippets

Using double slurs for legato chords

Some composers write two slurs when they want legato chords. This can be achieved by setting doubleSlurs.

     
     \relative c' {
       \set doubleSlurs = ##t
       <c e>4( <d f> <c e> <d f>)
     }

See also

Music Glossary: slur.

Learning Manual: On the un-nestedness of brackets and ties.

Notation Reference: Direction and placement, Phrasing slurs.

Snippets: Expressive marks.

Internals Reference: Slur.

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