I have been looking into articulation and dynamics over the past week, primarily focused on guitar (but I'm sure any learning musician can benefit from this regardless of your instrument). I believe I have a decent understanding of these two concepts, however it's hard to get a 100% solid understanding of them and how they relate to one another, even through endless googling sessions! So in this post I'll tell you what I think is a solid definition of the two concepts (and how they relate to each other), and you guys can discuss and correct me. :-)
I am under the impression that dynamics includes everything that changes the sound such as speed, volume, tone etc... and that articulation is:
- 1) how you move into/out-of a particular note (or across a group of notes in time). This would including string bending, slides, vibrato, ornaments, etc... This would also encompass legato and staccato.
- 2) how you utilise dynamics and effects for a particular note (or across a group of notes in time). This would include the sound of the attack if there is one (i.e. the momentary sound of the pick or finger nail against the string, or the "slap" when slapping the strings) and it's resulting affect on the tone (i.e. brighter sound from a string attacked from a pick at a particular angle or picking closer to neck/bridge, or that harmonic sound resulted from brushing thumb against , etc...). This would also include how you directly control the dynamics from devices such as the tone/volume knobs, or wah-wah pedal, etc...
So dynamics are effectively controlled and shaped by articulation.
What are peoples thoughts on this topic?
Cheers, Lost C.