Trills
Definition
Trills are rapid alternations between two adjacent pitches. They create a trembling or vibrating effect in the music.
Analogy
Imagine you have a toy car with wheels that spin really fast. When you press a button, it rapidly switches between spinning clockwise and counterclockwise. That's how trills work in music - they rapidly alternate between two pitches.
Related terms
Tremolo: Similar to trills, tremolo involves rapid alternations, but instead of pitches, it's applied to volume or intensity.
Glissando: Sliding smoothly from one pitch to another.
Vibrato: A slight fluctuation in pitch used to enhance expressiveness while holding a sustained note.
"Trills" appears in:
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