Tremolo marking

Slashes across a note stem, instructing rapid repetition.

Also known as: Tremolo, Slashes on a stem, Lines through a note stem

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Meanings

Slashes across a stem mean repeat the note rapidly. The number of slashes states the speed in the same way note flags do, so the notation is counted rather than interpreted.

Common modern usageVerified fact
Instructs the note to be repeated rapidly for its written duration.
Contexts: Music
Common modern usageVerified fact
States the speed by the number of slashes, following the same counting rule as note flags: one slash for eighths, two for sixteenths.
Contexts: Music
Common modern usageVerified fact
Drawn between two notes instead of on one stem, instructs rapid alternation between them rather than repetition of one.
Contexts: Music

Visual description

One to three short parallel diagonal strokes crossing a note's stem, angled the same way as a beam and evenly spaced along it.

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

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

Note value
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.
Tremolo
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

Slashes across a stem mean repeat the note rapidly. The number of slashes states the speed in the same way note flags do, so the notation is counted rather than interpreted.

Common modern usageVerified fact

Instructs the note to be repeated rapidly for its written duration.

Contexts: Music

Common modern usageVerified fact

States the speed by the number of slashes, following the same counting rule as note flags: one slash for eighths, two for sixteenths.

Contexts: Music

Common modern usageVerified fact

Drawn between two notes instead of on one stem, instructs rapid alternation between them rather than repetition of one.

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

Note value
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.
Tremolo
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