What Is Legato Bowing on the Violin?

Legato means playing successive notes smoothly and connectedly.

Legato is shown by a gently curved line above or below the notes. It connects at least two notes, with no fixed upper limit. All notes under the slur are played in one bow stroke, whether an up-bow or a down-bow.

Legato is one of the basic on-string bowing techniques. If the notes within a slur have equal durations, distribute the bow equally between them. Pay attention to evenness, finger coordination, bow speed and string changes so transitions remain smooth and imperceptible.

Especially on bowed strings, legato creates smooth sound transitions and an orderly visual flow.

Duygu Deniz Uşaklıgil
Rekor Sanat – Violin Teacher