Add dynamic marks, slurs, and crescendi

Dynamic marks indicate the dynamic level at which a performer should play a musical phrase or section. You can add dynamic marks such as p (piano), ff (fortissimo), and sfz (sforzando). Dynamic marks are visual symbols only, and don’t affect the volume of notes during playback.

You can add slurs to indicate notes that should be played legato, and add dynamic crescendo and decrescendo symbols (sometimes called hairpins). After adding these symbols, you can adjust their length to indicate which notes they apply to. These symbols are visual symbols only, and have no effect on playback.

The Part box is available when Show Advanced Tools is selected in Logic Pro Advanced preferences.

Add a dynamic symbol

  1. If the Dynamics section of the Part box isn’t visible, click the Dynamics button in the Part box.

  2. Drag a dynamic symbol from the Part box to the place in the score where you want to add it.

Add a slur

  1. If the Slurs and Crescendi section of the Part box isn’t visible, click the Slurs and Crescendi button in the Part box.

  2. Drag a slur from the Part box to the place in the score where you want it to start (the left edge).

    The slur remains selected, and small square handles appear along its length.

  3. Drag the handles to reshape the slur.

Note: These are slurs, not ties. Ties cannot be inserted manually, but are displayed automatically if a MIDI note’s length requires it. For more information, see Control the appearance of tied notes.

Add a crescendo or decrescendo

  1. If the Slurs and Crescendi section of the Part box isn’t visible, click the Slurs and Crescendi button in the Part box.

  2. Drag a crescendo from the Part box to the place in the score where you want it to start (the left edge).

    The crescendo remains selected, and small square handles appear at its end points.

  3. Drag the handles to extend the crescendo to the place where you want it to end (the right edge).

Edit slurs and crescendi

The start position and length of these symbols can also be edited in the Event List or Event Float window, by changing the corresponding numerical parameter.