Meaning & use
acciaccatura
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Meaning
nouncountablemusictechnical
A short grace note played very quickly just before a main note, often shown with a slash through its stem.
Grammar: Use it with 'on' or 'before' the main note: an acciaccatura on the first beat.
Patterns
- acciaccatura on something
- play an acciaccatura
The pianist added a delicate acciaccatura before the opening note.
In the score, the acciaccatura is written as a small note with a slash.
He played the acciaccatura so quickly that it almost sounded like a single note.
Word forms
| plural | acciaccaturas |
|---|---|
| plural | acciaccature |
Common combinations
- play an acciaccatura
- She played an acciaccatura to decorate the phrase.
- written as an acciaccatura
- The passage is written as an acciaccatura in the manuscript.
- acciaccatura before the beat
- The acciaccatura before the beat gives the melody a lively feel.
Synonyms and how they differ
- grace note
- 'Grace note' is the general term for any extra decorative note; an acciaccatura is one specific, very short type.
- appoggiatura
- An appoggiatura is a grace note that takes some of the main note's time, so it sounds longer than an acciaccatura.
Commonly confused: acciaccatura or appoggiatura?
acciaccatura vs appoggiatura
Both are grace notes, but an appoggiatura is played with weight and length, while an acciaccatura is crushed in quickly.
Practice
Which term describes a very short grace note played just before the main note?
Choose one answer.
An acciaccatura is a quick grace note; an appoggiatura is longer, a cadenza is an elaborate solo passage, and a fermata is a held note.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “acciaccatura”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.