Accent mark

A horizontal wedge above a note, instructing extra attack.

Also known as: Accent, Arrow above a note, Sideways v music

MusicalEveryday & digitalStandard profile

Meanings

A sideways wedge above a note means play it with a stronger attack. It affects the start of the note rather than its volume throughout, which is what separates it from a dynamic marking.

Common modern usageVerified fact
Instructs the note to be attacked more strongly than those around it.
Contexts: Music
Common modern usageVerified fact
Affects the start of the note rather than its level throughout, which is what distinguishes it from a dynamic marking.
Contexts: Music

Visual description

A short horizontal wedge of two strokes meeting at a point on the right, placed directly above or below a notehead.

Symmetry: horizontal
Orientation: upright

Part of the same system as: Staccato dot
The articulation set.

Confidence

IdentityHigh confidence: High confidence because the identity is documented in encyclopedic references.
Historical originModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useHigh confidence: High confidence because the current use is documented in encyclopedic references.
Visual matchHigh confidence: High confidence because the visual match is documented in encyclopedic references.

Sources

Dynamics (music)
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-08-01
Tertiary reference. Used for what a mark instructs a performer to do and for uncontested history, never for a claim that any body defines staff notation.
Articulation (music)
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-08-01
Tertiary reference. Used for what a mark instructs a performer to do and for uncontested history, never for a claim that any body defines staff notation.

Last reviewed 2026-07-31

Part of

Musical expression and technique marks

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Meanings

A sideways wedge above a note means play it with a stronger attack. It affects the start of the note rather than its volume throughout, which is what separates it from a dynamic marking.

Common modern usageVerified fact

Instructs the note to be attacked more strongly than those around it.

Contexts: Music

Common modern usageVerified fact

Affects the start of the note rather than its level throughout, which is what distinguishes it from a dynamic marking.

Contexts: Music

Confidence

IdentityHigh confidence: High confidence because the identity is documented in encyclopedic references.
Historical originModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useHigh confidence: High confidence because the current use is documented in encyclopedic references.
Visual matchHigh confidence: High confidence because the visual match is documented in encyclopedic references.

Sources

Dynamics (music)
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-08-01
Tertiary reference. Used for what a mark instructs a performer to do and for uncontested history, never for a claim that any body defines staff notation.
Articulation (music)
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-08-01
Tertiary reference. Used for what a mark instructs a performer to do and for uncontested history, never for a claim that any body defines staff notation.

Last reviewed 2026-07-31

Meanings

Visual description

Related & commonly confused symbols

Meanings

Visual description

Related & commonly confused symbols