What does a tie in music notation mean?

In music notation, a tie is used to join two notes of the same pitch, allowing the musician to hold the combined duration of both notes as a single sustained sound. This means that instead of playing the notes separately, the performer plays the first note and continues to sound it until the end of the second note, effectively extending the length of the note by the value of the tied note.

This concept is crucial for musicians because it indicates how long a note should be held in relation to others within a piece. Rather than stopping after the first note, the tie signifies that the sound should continue seamlessly, reflecting the composer’s intention for the phrasing and rhythm in the music. This technique adds expressiveness and helps maintain the flow of the music throughout the performance.