Acciaccatura

The acciaccatura (from the Italian 'acciaccare', meaning 'to crush') is a short ornamental note played as quickly as possible before the principal note, almost crushed into it. It is written as a small note with a slash through its stem, distinguishing it from the appoggiatura which has no slash. Unlike the appoggiatura, the acciaccatura takes no appreciable time from the main note — it should sound like a spark or a flick just before the beat arrives. Practise acciaccaturas by playing the grace note and main note almost simultaneously with a quick finger snap, keeping your hand relaxed; tension is the enemy of clean ornaments.