Accent
An accent mark (>) asks one note to stand out from its neighbors. In a line of equal notes, the marked note receives a clearer, stronger attack without requiring the whole passage to become loud.
- symbol: >
- one local emphasis
- relative to nearby notes
What does the sign look like?
A small sideways wedge, >, sits above or below the notehead. It belongs to that note. It does not change the pitch or the notated beat value. In a piano phrase marked p, an accented note can still be relatively soft; it only needs to stand out against the surrounding quiet notes.
Does an accent always mean louder?
A firmer start is common, but “emphasis” is broader than a fixed volume increase. Timing, duration and instrument technique can also draw attention to a note. Read the mark in the phrase instead of treating it like a decibel command.
How is it different from marcato?
A Marcato wedge ^ normally asks for a heavier, more sharply outlined note than an ordinary > accent. The exact difference depends on style and instrument. Try both on the same note and make the marcato version more pointed while preserving the pulse.
Try it in a phrase
Play C-D-E-F twice, accenting E only on the second pass. Listen to how the same four notes now have a center of gravity. If every note receives the same extra force, you have lost the local accent.