Sideways S in music is a symbol that represents turns in music. The sideways s in music is a symbol that denotes a turn. Turns are usually executed by playing the note below or above the one with the symbol and then going back to the original note.
What is a Turn in Music?
A turn, also known as gruppetto, is ornamentation played by moving from one note to another and returning to the first one. It is denoted by an S symbol placed above a note (the main note) or between two notes in some cases.
The turn signifies the musician to play a set of notes quickly. The speed of a turn depends on the music being played and the musician’s discretion.
Regular Turn
For regular turns, there are four notes played in quick succession. The note above the main note is played first, followed by the main note, below the main note, and finally, the main note is played again.
Inverted Turn
The inverted turn is the same as the regular turn, except that the order of notes is reversed. The note below the main note is played first, followed by the main note, above the main note, and then finally, again. The inverted turn’s symbol is the same as the regular turn, but it has a vertical cutting through it.
Offset Turn
Sometimes, the turn symbol is placed between two notes, which affects how the notes are played. When the symbol is used in this way, it is called an offset gruppetto.
Conclusion
The sideways S in music is a symbol called a turn or gruppetto. Turns are executed by playing the note below or above the one with the symbol and going back to the original note.
This article looks at what turns are and how they are represented in music notation. We also looked at the different types of turns that can be played.
