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Music vocabulary · Notation and Reading Music

Grace note

Meaning in music, with examples

nounAdvanced term

In music, grace note means: An ornamental note shown in small notation and associated with a main note; its performed timing depends on musical style.

In Turkish: çarpma nota

How it is used

Common in vocal lines, folk styles, and instrumental solos. It decorates a note and is usually written smaller than regular notes.

Example sentences

  1. The violinist added the grace note lightly so the phrase stayed elegant instead of sounding rhythmically heavy.

    Here grace note means a brief ornament that colors the phrase without becoming a full counted beat.

  2. On the recording, the singer delayed the grace note slightly, giving the opening word a more expressive lift.

    In this sentence, the term refers to a tiny added note that shapes expression at the start of the word.

Common collocations

  • play a grace note
  • grace note ornament
  • written grace note
  • delayed grace note
  • noteA single musical sound with a particular pitch and length, or the written symbol that shows it. In English, notes are named with the letters A to G.
  • sheet musicMusic written or printed in notation on paper or a screen, so that musicians can read and play it.

More terms: Notation and Reading Music

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