Glissando line

A straight or wavy line between two notes, sliding continuously between them.

Also known as: Slide line music, Diagonal line between notes

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Meanings

A line drawn between two notes means slide from one to the other. What actually sounds depends entirely on the instrument — a continuous sweep on a violin, a run of discrete notes on a piano.

Common modern usageVerified fact
Instructs a continuous slide in pitch from the first note to the second.
Contexts: Music
Common modern usageVerified fact
Produces a genuinely different sound depending on the instrument: a smooth continuous sweep where pitch is continuous, and a rapid run of separate notes on a keyboard or harp where it is not.
Contexts: Music

Visual description

A straight or gently wavy line running diagonally from the first notehead to the second, often with the abbreviation gliss. written along it.

A fuller structured visual breakdown is not yet documented for this symbol.

Confidence

IdentityModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the identity is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.
Historical originLow confidence: Low confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the current use is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.
Visual matchModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the visual match is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.

Sources

Glissando
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 line drawn between two notes means slide from one to the other. What actually sounds depends entirely on the instrument — a continuous sweep on a violin, a run of discrete notes on a piano.

Common modern usageVerified fact

Instructs a continuous slide in pitch from the first note to the second.

Contexts: Music

Common modern usageVerified fact

Produces a genuinely different sound depending on the instrument: a smooth continuous sweep where pitch is continuous, and a rapid run of separate notes on a keyboard or harp where it is not.

Contexts: Music

Confidence

IdentityModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the identity is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.
Historical originLow confidence: Low confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the current use is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.
Visual matchModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the visual match is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.