Turn (gruppetto)
A turn circles the written note through upper neighbour, main note, lower neighbour and main note. Its placement controls timing: directly above a note it may begin at once, while a sign between notes begins after the first note has sounded; rhythm and historical realization vary.
The sources do not fully agree about this sign. The explanation above says where they part company.
- Ornaments and grace notes
- Above the note
- A wave or squiggle, A curve or arc
Do not confuse it with
A normal turn begins above the main note; an inverted turn begins below it.
What the sources say
- Steps to Music Theory — Compound Meters
In general, the turn symbol encompasses many meanings within a single symbol.
- Study: Ornaments
The turn can be written either over a note, in which case the ornament is performed beginning on the note above the marked note, or it can be written between two notes
- Music Theory Online — Ornamentation
this is a 'free' ornament; the shape of the note sequence is followed, but all else is up to the performer and the occasion.