Ever looked at your sheet music and wondered about those mysterious curved lines connecting the same notes? Let’s demystify tied notes and discover why they’re such a game-changer for your piano playing!
What Are Tied Notes?
Think of tied notes as musical addition – instead of writing + and =, composers use a gently curved line to show you when to hold a note longer. The cool thing about ties is they let us create smooth, flowing rhythms that wouldn’t be possible otherwise!
Here are the basic rules:
Tied notes must be the exact same pitch (like two B flats or two Cs). When you see that curved line connecting them, treat them as one longer note.
While they can be different lengths (i.e. quarter and half notes), at the beginner level you’ll mostly see them connecting notes across measure lines.
Why Do We Need Them?
Sometimes in music, we need to hold a note longer than a single measure allows. That’s where tied notes come in! They’re especially handy when:
- A note needs to ring out across a bar line
- We want to create interesting rhythms that flow between beats
- Music needs to be visually organized while maintaining complex timing
To see a ‘happy’ version and what these look like on the staff, watch the video above or click here.
Ties vs. Slurs: Don’t Get Them Mixed Up!
One of the biggest “aha moments” for my piano students is learning the difference between ties and slurs. While they look similar, they serve completely different purposes.
A tie connects the same note, while a slur shows that different notes should be played smoothly (legato).
Want to see and hear the difference? Check out my video demonstration where I play both ties and slurs, making it crystal clear how each one affects your music.
Hear It in Action
It can be challenging to envision what tied notes sound like, right?
In my video, I demonstrate a piece called “Film Noir” that showcases how ties can create a fascinating drone effect – similar to what you might hear in bagpipe music! I play it both with and without the tied notes so you can hear the dramatic difference.
Ready to Master Tied Notes?
Understanding tied notes opens up a whole new world of musical expression. While these curved connectors might seem tricky at first, they’re your ticket to creating beautiful, interesting music at the piano.
Remember: Great piano playing is all about connecting the dots (or in this case, the notes!).
Keep practicing, and soon tied notes will feel like second nature!
How do you remember the difference between ties and slurs?
Want to explore more creative piano learning methods? Consider joining our piano studio, where I focus on making every aspect of piano learning engaging and accessible. From beginners to more advanced students, I believe in finding creative solutions that keep you motivated while building solid technical skills.
