Appoggiatura

An appoggiatura is usually printed as a small note without the slash associated with a short acciaccatura. The main note remains full-size. The small note often approaches by step, but read the actual written pitch and any accidental rather than assuming every example uses the upper neighbor.

Some traditional descriptions give an appoggiatura roughly half a longer main note's value. That is a helpful first exercise, not a universal timing law. Meter, style, tempo and the particular phrase affect the realization. Keep the larger pulse steady while making the leaning note audible.

“Grace note” names the broad notational family of small notes. An appoggiatura is one expressive type within it. A very short slashed Grace Note may flick into the main pitch; the appoggiatura normally carries more weight on the beat.

Count “one-and, two-and.” On “one,” play A; on “and,” play G; let beat two continue normally. Then try a quicker approach that still begins on one. Both versions should lead somewhere, not become two unrelated notes.