Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
🎹 A sliding sound 🎶 With sliding notes
glissando

glissando

9.9
In a way that slides quickly across notes
  • adverb
  • /ɡlɪˈsændoʊ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : glissando
  • The pianist is instructed to play the passage glissando for a dramatic effect.

Examples

  • The conductor signaled the strings to enter glissando during the crescendo.

  • Did the violinist perform the piece glissando?

  • He performed the scale glissando, sliding his fingers rapidly across the keys.

  • The pianist played the scale glissando!

  • The conductor instructed the orchestra to play the notes glissando for a smooth transition between melodies.

  • To create a sweeping sound, the flutist played the passage glissando, making the notes flow seamlessly.

  • During the performance, the cellist executed a beautiful glissando, sliding effortlessly from one pitch to another.

Synonyms

portamento
vsglissando
  • Specialized
8.4

A smooth glide from one musical note to another that singers and musicians use

is played as a rapid sequence of separate notes rather than a continuous glide

Surface Forms

glissando positive

Etymology

Glissando comes from the Italian verb glissare, 'to slide', and as a musical direction it tells the player to perform 'in a sliding way', so you play the passage as a quick, smooth slide across the notes.