Curved lines on sheet music most commonly represent either a slur or a tie, each with distinct meanings:
- A slur is a curved line connecting two or more notes of different pitches. It indicates those notes should be played smoothly and connectedly (legato), without any breaks between them. Sometimes long slurs spanning many notes indicate a musical phrase or idea to be played as a whole.
- A tie is a curved line connecting two or more notes of the same pitch. It shows that these notes are to be played as a single sustained note, with the duration being the sum of the tied notes. Ties often cross barlines or clarify rhythmic groupings.
In short, slurs group different pitches for smooth playing, while ties connect identical pitches for extending note duration. Both are essential for interpreting musical phrasing and rhythm accurately. The curved line's position (above or below notes) and the stem directions can also provide clues to distinguishing between ties and slurs.
