A flat mordent

by Monica Thurston
(Martinsburg, West Virginia)

Question: I don't understand what I am supposed to do with an A♭ mordent. It's not supposed to be a trill, but an alternation but between what two notes?

Thank you for your help.

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Answer: A mordent is one rapid alternation with either the note above or the note below.

The symbol for the mordent looks like a stretched-out W. This would be played with the note above.

A mordent with a vertical line through it signifies an alteration with the note below it.

If you need to play a mordent from A♭ with the note above, either B♭ or B-natural, play the A♭, then quickly lift the middle finger of the left hand: A - B♭ - A

To go to a B♭, put your thumb on the B♭ thumb key. To go to a B-natural, be sure your thumb is off the thumb B♭ key: A - B - A

If the mordent has a line through it and you need to go down to the G, play the A♭, then quickly lift the left hand pinky: A♭ - G - A♭

See the image below. The mordent on the left goes to the note above. The one on the right goes the note below.