slur

A slur is a curved line drawn above or below a group of notes, indicating legato performance — the notes should flow smoothly into each other with no gaps or rearticulation. For string players, all notes under a slur are played in a single bow stroke. For wind players, all notes are played in a single breath without tonguing. Slurs are distinct from ties, though they look similar. A tie connects two notes of the same pitch, combining their durations into one longer note. A slur connects notes of different pitches, indicating smooth connection. In piano music, slurs indicate phrasing — the rise and fall of the musical line — since the piano cannot truly sustain a legato connection between notes.