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

If the Dynamics section of the Part box isn’t visible, click the Dynamics button in the Part box.
Drag a dynamic symbol from the Part box to the place in the score where you want to add it.

Add a slur

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

If the Slurs and Crescendi section of the Part box isn’t visible, click the Slurs and Crescendi button in the Part box.
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.
Drag the handles to extend the crescendo to the place where you want it to end (the right edge).

Edit slurs and crescendi

To move a slur or crescendo: Select the item, then drag (from the center). Notice that as you move the handle, alignment guides indicate the note to which it is attached.
To change the length of a slur or crescendo: Drag the rightmost handle. Notice that as you move the handle, alignment guides indicate the note to which it is attached.
In Linear Score view, you can extend a slur to a position not visible in the Score Editor by dragging its rightmost handle to the right border of the Score Editor. The score scrolls automatically. When the end position for the slur appears in the window, move the pointer back to the left slightly to stop scrolling, then position the end of the slur. It is important that you do not release the mouse button during the entire process.
In Page Score view, you can simply drag the right handle to the desired destination on a lower staff. The slur is displayed in several sections.
The length can exceed the end of the MIDI region. It’s possible to drag the right handle of a crescendo to a position in the next MIDI region on the same track.
To change the contour of a slur: Drag one or more of the inner handles until the slur shows the correct contour.
To change the opening angle of a crescendo: Drag one or more of the rightmost handles vertically.
To change the overall angle of a crescendo: Drag one or more of the rightmost handles vertically.

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.