Britannica Sources used in this answer

How does a slur tell musicians to connect notes?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

In musical notation, a slur is represented by a curved line placed above or below a group of notes. This symbol instructs the musician to perform the connected notes smoothly and in a connected manner, without any audible separation between them. When used in vocal music, a slur specifically indicates that the notes should be sung to the same syllable.123