how to notate a trill?

Question

i know how to write a regular trill that tells the performer to play a note embellishing up, but how do you notate a trill so that he embellishes down? for instance, if i wrote a trill marking on a B note, normally the performer would alternate between B and C but how could i tell them to alternate between B and Bb or B and A?

Answer 1

1. Between B and Bb just write the two in 32nd notes for the duration you want. I don't know of any actual notation for this.

2. If the key already has a B and A natural the trill will automatically go between the two so you have two options for this. Either do a B grace note to a tr~ on the A. Or you can just do a tr~ w/ a slash through the trill squiggle. If the B would be an accidental in the key then just put the natural sign in front of the B with the above mentioned notation.

3. If the song is in Bb, or F, then the trill down would automatically be to A natural, so you could use the same notation as above. If it has a Ab in it, just write a natural sign after or below the ~.

4. I have also just seen the note with the trill notation, and mini notes above it showing how the composer wants the trill performed. Or an astrick with a footnote to performance notation.

Hope this helps you!

Answer 2

So, you now know that by marking a note with a "tr" above it, the note will alternate with the note above it (either a tone or semitone, depending on the notes' positions in the scale, or any accidentals added). However, if you want to 'trill' between your starting note and another note other than the adjacent higher note, you mark the desired note as a small filled-in note head (no tail) in brackets after the primary note in the desired position of the note you want.

Answer 3

saber1002 is wrong. Two written notes with diagonal slashes are indeed tremolos -- but it's two instruments playing each note, generally in string writing.

For a trill, write the bottom note, write "tr" above it, and write a wavy line from the "tr" over the course of how ever many beats you want the trill to last. If the trill sustains over a bar line, tie the note but don't repeat the "tr". It's ideal to have the "tr" and line above the staff -- if this is impossible, put the "tr" where it can be read logically, tie the notes from bar to bar, and perhaps repeat the "tr" in parenthesis at each bar.

Answer 4

If you want the performer to go between B and A that is a tremelo (sp.)

The way I've always seen those notated is having the two notes written out and a double diagonal line between the two notes.

Answer 5

Write the trill on the lower note. If it is important to have the trill start on the upper note maybe you could use a grace note to indicate this.

Answer 6

Your best option is use the abbreviation tr above the first note and then tie that note to the succeeding lowering-in-pitch notes by placing a wavy line right after "tr," covering all the notes that you wish trilled.

Answer 7

i've seen composers cheat and write the trill symbol at a downward angle above the note.