Instruments & Performance

Marcato

Japanese name
マルカート

Marcato is an expression where notes are played clearly and emphatically.

How to use it

Play important notes strongly on brass or strings and combine it with accents to build the peak of a phrase.

How it differs from related terms

Marcato means playing strongly and distinctly, while staccato means playing short and detached.

Emphasizing only the important notes, rather than everything, is what makes it land.

Sources & review

Last reviewed July 16, 2026

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