Tie

The tie is a notation symbol — a curved line drawn between two adjacent notes of the same pitch — that combines them into a single sustained note. The note is played once, at the duration of the first written note, and held through the duration of the second. The two notes effectively become one.

Ties are essential for notating durations that cross bar lines or that combine standard note values into longer ones. Since music notation cannot directly write a note that crosses a barline (the barline is meant to signal the start of a new measure), composers use a tie to bridge the gap.

The tie is visually similar to the slur, which can cause confusion. The distinguishing rule: a tie always connects two notes of the same pitch. A slur connects two or more notes of different pitches. Both are curved lines, but their meaning is entirely different.

Old English tīgan, ‘to bind, fasten’.

Play the first note as written, then sustain it through the value of the second tied note. Do not re-articulate. On piano, hold the key until the total duration is complete; on strings and winds, sustain the bow stroke or breath.