What is a Glissando?

A glissando is a musical technique where a performer slides smoothly from one note to another, passing through all the pitches in between. Instead of moving in separate steps, the sound glides continuously from the starting note to the ending note. This creates a flowing and expressive effect in the music.

In written music, a glissando is often indicated by a straight or wavy line connecting two notes, sometimes labeled with the word glissando or the abbreviation gliss. The performer begins on the first note and then quickly slides to the second note while passing through the intermediate pitches.

Glissandos are commonly used on instruments that allow smooth pitch changes, such as piano, harp, trombone, guitar, and string instruments. On a piano, it is often performed by sliding a finger across a series of keys. This technique adds dramatic expression, excitement, and fluid motion to musical passages.