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A grace note is a small ornamental note written immediately before a main note. It is played as a decoration and adds expression without changing the basic melody.
What is a grace note?
Grace notes are commonly divided into two types: the acciaccatura, which is played very quickly before the beat, and the appoggiatura, which usually takes part of the main note’s value and receives more emphasis.
Grace notes are widely used in classical music, jazz, blues and many folk traditions to add character and expressive detail to a melody.
How are grace notes used in piano playing?
Piano players use grace notes to create expressive melodic embellishments and stylistic phrasing. In blues, gospel and jazz, grace notes are frequently used to add energy, tension and a more vocal quality to a melody.
Learning to play grace notes naturally helps pianists develop a more expressive and stylistically authentic performance.