Glissandoable

Glissandoable is an adjective used to describe a performer, instrument, or electronic instrument capable of producing a glissando, a continuous slide in pitch from one pitch to another. The term emphasizes the practical feasibility of executing a pitch glide within performance or a sound design context.

In practice, many acoustic and electronic sources can be glissandoable. String instruments such as violins, violas, cellos, and double basses achieve glissandi by sliding a finger along the string. Brass instruments with a slide, notably the trombone, enable explicit pitch glides. The human voice naturally performs glissandi, from rapid vocal slides to sustained portamenti. On guitars, a slide or bending technique can create glissando effects, and many electric guitars use bridges and tunings to facilitate slides.

Electronic and digital instruments expand the concept. Synthesizers and MIDI controllers can implement portamento or glide, allowing smooth pitch transitions between notes even when the performance involves fixed-key input. Some keyboards and software may label features as glissando or offer dedicated glide parameters, underscoring the instrument’s glissandoable character.

Notationally, glissando is indicated by a glissando marking between notes or a wavy line. The distinction between glissando and portamento is subtle: glissando often implies a more rapid or explicit slide, while portamento denotes a smooth, continuous transition within a voice or instrument.

Overall, glissandoable describes any system or performer capable of producing a perceptible pitch glide, whether through physical technique, electronic control, or digital sound processing.