Two performances of the same five notes can sound like completely different sentences.
What you can practise in PianEd: Legato & Staccato is an existing free Level 1 Skill, not a premium exercise. It appears in the Android app’s Skills path, and you can practise the concept on-screen.
Legato connects
For legato, let a note continue until the next note begins, making the line feel connected. On a keyboard, practise C–D–E–F–G without big gaps. Avoid relying on sustain for every change.
Imagine singing one smooth phrase rather than five separate syllables.
Staccato leaves space
For staccato, release each key promptly so the notes sound detached. Keep the finger movement light, with a relaxed wrist. A staccato note is not automatically a loud note.
Practise the same five-note pattern C–D–E–F–G with small silences between entries.
Compare them by ear
Alternate one legato phrase and one staccato phrase. Ask: which version sounds flowing, and which sounds playful? The PianEd free Legato & Staccato guided Skill introduces both touches.
Try changing only the articulation, not the melody or general tempo, to hear the contrast clearly.
Common mistakes and what to do instead
- Using pedal to fake hand legato in every exercise. Slow down and return to one clear, relaxed repetition.
- Hitting staccato notes with unnecessary force. Slow down and return to one clear, relaxed repetition.
- Letting the pulse disappear during shorter notes. Slow down and return to one clear, relaxed repetition.
Your four-minute challenge
Use one minute to understand the notes or movement, two minutes to repeat the smallest useful pattern and one minute to test yourself without hints. Finish when your sound is clean, not when you feel tired.
Then open the Legato & Staccato Skill in PianEd to practise with the app’s real guided exercise. The full set of 15 built-in free Skills remains part of the Level 1 experience.
Frequently asked questions
What is legato on piano?
Smooth, connected articulation between notes.
What is staccato on piano?
Short, detached articulation with an audible gap between notes.
Your next note is waiting
Practice what you just learned inside PianEd. Level 1 is free, touchscreen works without a physical piano, and optional MIDI support is available when you want it.
- No card required for Level 1
- 24 free Theory lessons
- 15 free Skills
- 17 free Play pieces