What is the difference between a slur and a tie?

What is the difference between a slur and a tie?

• A. A slur indicates a rest
• B. A tie marks legato
• C. Both slur and tie indicate phrasing only
• D. A slur connects different notes for legato; a tie connects identical pitches to sustain

Answer: (D)

The difference lies in how the curved line is used to shape sound. An arc tying two notes of the same pitch means you treat them as one sustained note, extending the duration without rearticulating the pitch. A slur, by contrast, connects notes of different pitches to show they should be played smoothly and as a single musical idea, emphasizing legato or phrasing rather than just holding a note. So, tying identical pitches sustains the sound across the notes, while slurring different pitches indicates a connected, flowing transition between pitches. The other ideas miss this distinction: a tie isn’t about resting or simply indicating phrasing, it actually lengthens a note; a slur can indicate legato, but it doesn’t extend duration the way a tie does.

The difference lies in how the curved line is used to shape sound. An arc tying two notes of the same pitch means you treat them as one sustained note, extending the duration without rearticulating the pitch. A slur, by contrast, connects notes of different pitches to show they should be played smoothly and as a single musical idea, emphasizing legato or phrasing rather than just holding a note.

So, tying identical pitches sustains the sound across the notes, while slurring different pitches indicates a connected, flowing transition between pitches. The other ideas miss this distinction: a tie isn’t about resting or simply indicating phrasing, it actually lengthens a note; a slur can indicate legato, but it doesn’t extend duration the way a tie does.