tenuto

Tenuto is a common articulation mark in musical notation. It indicates that a note should be held for its full written value, or even slightly longer, and usually played with a smooth connection to adjacent notes. The symbol is a short horizontal line placed above or below the note head.

In performance, a tenuto mark guides both duration and phrasing. The note is not shortened, and the line often implies a certain weight or emphasis within the musical line without increasing volume markedly. The effect can vary with context; in a fast passage it may mean careful, even timing, while in a lyrical line it supports a sustained, connected feel.

Tenuto can interact with other articulation marks. A tenuto mark combined with a dot is commonly interpreted as portato or mezzo-staccato, indicating notes that are lightly detached but still held longer than a staccato. When placed under a slur, tenuto tends to reinforce a smooth, legato connection across the group of notes.

Notationally, tenuto may also appear as the written word “tenuto” in some editions, though the symbol is far more common. The term derives from Italian tenere, meaning “to hold.” Tenuto is used across instruments and styles to shape phrasing, rhythm, and overall expressive contour.