Legato

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A slurred A-minor natural scale. The slur indicates that the scale is played legato.

Bassoon articulations

A bassoon played staccato, legato, legato + vibrato, and slurred

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In music performance and notation, legato ([leˈɡaːto]; Italian for "tied together"; French lié; German gebunden) indicates that musical notes are played or sung smoothly and connected. That is, the player makes a transition from note to note with no intervening silence. Legato technique is required for slurred performance, but unlike slurring (as that term is interpreted for some instruments), legato does not forbid re-articulation.^{[clarification needed]}

Standard notation indicates legato either with the word legato, or by a slur (a curved line) under notes that form one legato group. Legato, like staccato, is a kind of articulation.

There is an intermediate articulation called either mezzo staccato or non-legato (sometimes referred to as portato).