Human Phrasing

When you see notes written on a page, those tones and rhythms are just the beginning. There are countless ways you can mix up the phrasing of any melody to have it say countless different things. One common way phrasing is notated on paper is with slurs or phrase marks, the thin curved lines that you see over and under notes in Examples 1b, c, and d. These slurs mean that you should connect the notes contained in them, not allowing any space between when you let up any given note and play the next one. One way to think of the notes contained in a slur is as words contained in a sentence.

As you look at the examples, you’ll also notice the words “down,” “up,” “short,” and “breathe.” Indications like these aren’t generally included in sheet music; they’ve been written here to help you understand the possibilities that creative phrasing can open up to you. Lower your hand and forearm into the keys when you see the word “down” and lift them back up when you see the word “up.” “Breathe” means just that — leave some space without playing anything. “Short” also means just what it says — strike the note very quickly and don’t sustain it for long at all. Striking and releasing a note quickly is commonly referred to as playing “staccato.”

The larger purpose of all these markings is to make your phrases sound as human and expressive as possible. Play through the examples with the indicated articulations, and then try to create some of your own. Go through the exact same notes as those written in Examples 1b–d, but play them as if they’re being sung by a human voice. Wail through the lick like it was being shouted out by an old blues-man. Then articulate it like it’s being rapped by a skilled MC. If you come from an ethnic background that has a signature style of music, perform the lick in that tradition. Have fun, and don’t forget that even the simplest notes contain a world of possibilities.