Ornament (music)

Grace notes, also called ornaments, are small musical flourishes that are not necessary to the overall melodic (or harmonic) line, but serve to emphasize or "ornament" that line. They generally consist of only a few notes, intended to be played quickly. In standard musical notation they are usually shown appended to the staff in a smaller font.

Types of grace notes include:

Trill

A very rapid alternation between two notes. Also known as a shake. See trill.

Acciaccatura

Meaning "crushed in" in Italian, it designates a note which should be played on the beat, and as quickly as possible. Theoretically timeless. Some pianists play both the acciaccatura and the main note simultaneously, releasing the grace note immediately.

The acciaccatura is written as a note of smaller size, with a diagonal bar through the stem.

Appoggiatura

From the Italian word appoggiare, "to lean". The appoggiatura is important melodically and receives half the time value of the note it precendes.

The appoggiatura is written as a note of smaller size, like the acciaccatura but without the bar.

Musicians' mnemonic: the appoggiatura is longer because it is podgy.