Orchestral sample libraries have become essential tools for modern composers, offering an incredible range of articulations to create lifelike and dynamic mock-ups. Whether you’re a seasoned composer or just diving into virtual orchestration, understanding these articulations can elevate your music.
If like me when I first started, composer new to the world of sample libraries will come across the huge number of articulation styles used to affect the feel and sound of orchestral samples and are confused to their meaning and usage. In this post, we’ll explore both common and unusual articulations available in many orchestral libraries with a brief explanation of what each does.
Let’s break them down!
Common Orchestral String Section Articulations
🎵 1. Long
What is it?
Longs sound for as long as you hold down the note notes. They usually sound quite ‘synthy’ so require some dynamics to humanise the feel. Longs are your go-to articulation for playing in ideas and will make up the bulk of your arrangements.
Consideration should be used for realism when playing longs. A full orchestra with out special divisi only have one note per section, of which there are usually only 5 (violin1, 2, violas, cellos and basses). You can somewhat replicate this by playing two octave notes with your left hand and three closer voiced notes with your right. Keep in mind overusing the hold pedal, which effectivly doubles the notes played each time you play a chord, making for a very unrealistic result.
Usage Tip:
Start with longs to get your ideas into the DAW. Use the mod wheel to control dynamics in a realistic way to add feeling and emotion.
🎵 2. Staccato
What is it?
Staccato notes are short, detached, and percussive. Perfect for rhythmic passages or energetic motifs.
Usage Tip:
Staccato strings are often layered with spiccato for added bite. Great for fast ostinatos or punctuating brass lines.
🎵 3. Legato
What is it?
Legato articulations ensure smooth transitions between notes, emulating a seamless performance by a real player. Similar to longs, legatos play for as long as you hold the note down. They are usually a single note, you can’t play chords with legato.
Some libraries offer very dramatic legato articulation’s that soar or portamento wildly between notes, sounding as it the players are sliding up the neck between notes.
Usage Tip:
Legato’s only trigger if the notes are overlapping. You can use this to keep some notes seperated, effectivly making them ordinary longs. To trigger the legato effect, make sure each note is very slightly overlapping, too much and you will affect the timing. Most DAW’s have a ‘make legato’ option that will do this for selected notes automatically.
🎵 3. Pizzicato
What is it?
Plucking the string with the finger rather than using the bow. It produces a short, poppy sound.
Usage Tip:
Pizzicato strings add a quirky or playful element to your piece. Try combining with light percussion for whimsical textures. Basses sound fantastic with pizzicato.
🎵 4. Tremolo
What is it?
A rapid back-and-forth movement of the bow on a single note, creating a shimmering effect. Caution needs to be used for long sections of tremolo, as the timing of the motion could be different to your project tempo. Some sample libraries offer time-synced or tempo-locked variations to avoid this problem.
Usage Tip:
Great for building tension or atmospheric backgrounds in strings. Consider varying the dynamics with your mod wheel to build suspense.
🎵 5. Marcato
What is it?
A forceful, accented articulation, giving each note a strong emphasis. Sometimes referred to as a ‘dig’ in extreme styles.
Usage Tip:
Brass and strings benefit greatly from marcato in epic, dramatic passages. Ideal for fanfares and heroic motifs.
🎵 6. Trills
What is it?
Rapid alternation between two adjacent notes, often a semitone or whole tone apart.
Usage Tip:
Great for adding excitement to woodwind and string passages. Common in suspenseful or decorative sections.
🎵 7. Tenuto
What is it?
Holding a note for its full length with a slight emphasis, ensuring it is played smoothly and deliberately.
Usage Tip:
Perfect for lyrical passages, adding weight and expressiveness to melodies.
Unusual Orchestral Articulations
🎵 1. Flautando
What is it?
A technique where string players lightly bow near the fingerboard, creating an airy, flute-like tone.
Usage Tip:
Perfect for ethereal or dreamlike textures. Combine with pads or soft winds for a delicate atmosphere.
🎵 2. Sul Ponticello
What is it?
Bowing near the bridge of the instrument, producing a glassy, metallic sound. Often referred to as simply ‘SulPont’.
Usage Tip:
This eerie sound is excellent for horror scores or avant-garde compositions. Blend with tremolo for added suspense.
🎵 3. Con Sordino (Muted)
What is it?
Using a mute on the instrument to soften and dampen the sound. Often referred to as simply ‘CS’.
Usage Tip:
Muted strings or brass create a more intimate, mellow tone. Use for subtle emotional passages or cinematic underscore.
🎵 4. Col Legno
What is it?
Striking the strings with the wooden part of the bow rather than the hair. Care should be taken when swapping between Col Legno and other articulations for realism, as players usually need to physically swap bows for the technique, prefering not to damage their main bows when playing the style.
Usage Tip:
Adds a percussive, almost skeletal sound. Great for rhythmic textures in action or chase scenes.
🎵 5. Harmonics
What is it?
Lightly touching the string to produce a high-pitched, bell-like tone. This is inherently a detonate sound without distinguishable pitch. It’s genrally only used as an effect.
Usage Tip:
Use harmonics in strings for magical or otherworldly moments. They can add shimmering highlights to delicate passages.
🎵 6. Portamento
What is it?
A sliding transition between two notes, often more pronounced than a standard legato. More often used as an effect, though some styles (like orchestral disco music) feature the technique regually.
Usage Tip:
Ideal for expressive solos or romantic passages. String and brass libraries often include this for added realism.
🎵 7. Bartók Pizzicato
What is it?
Plucking the string so forcefully that it snaps against the fingerboard, producing a percussive “snap” sound.
Usage Tip:
Use for dramatic or aggressive accents in string writing.
🎵 8. Sul Tasto
What is it?
Bowing directly over the fingerboard, creating a soft, hazy tone.
Usage Tip:
Perfect for atmospheric or nostalgic passages. Great for soft, muted textures.
Brass and Woodwind Articulations
🎵 1. Long Cuivré (Brass)
What is it?
A sustained brass note played with a bright, brassy timbre, emphasizing the metallic quality of the instrument.
Usage Tip:
Ideal for dramatic or heroic moments. Adds intensity to climactic sections.
🎵 2. Flutter Tongue (Brass/Woodwinds)
What is it?
Rolling the tongue while playing, producing a growling, fluttering effect.
Usage Tip:
Great for tension, excitement, or adding a wild, untamed texture.
🎵 3. Multi-tongue (Brass/Woodwinds)
What is it?
Rapid articulation of notes using double- or triple-tonguing techniques.
Usage Tip:
Useful for fast brass fanfares or intricate woodwind passages that require precision and speed.
🎵 4. Long Flutter (Woodwinds)
What is it?
Sustained note with flutter tongue throughout the duration, adding a continuous, trembling texture.
Usage Tip:
Perfect for eerie, suspenseful, or chaotic atmospheres.
🎵 5. Staccatissimo
What is it?
Extremely short, detached notes—more clipped than standard staccato.
Usage Tip:
Use for rapid, pointed rhythms where extra precision is needed.
How to Make the Most of Articulations in Your DAW
- Layer Different Articulations – Try blending staccato with marcato or tremolo with sul ponticello for unique textures.
- Automate Dynamics and Expression – Use MIDI CC automation to breathe life into legato or con sordino lines.
- Keyswitching for Flexibility – Many libraries allow you to switch articulations on the fly with keyswitches, making your workflow smoother.
- Experiment! – Combine unusual articulations like col legno with pizzicato to create innovative sounds.
Understanding these articulations and incorporating them creatively can transform static MIDI tracks into vibrant, expressive orchestrations.
Happy composing!