The terms staccato and portato are not used in baroque music; however, some articulation types that resemble them are common.

A non-legato style of playing brings clarity, for example, to the articulation of wide intervals in the bass line. The non-legato style of playing brings lightness to fast pieces.

Example: J. S. Bach: Prelude in F major, bars 1-4 

In this fragment, non-legato articulation is used in double stops – this articulation is first used in the left hand and then, in bars 3 and 4, in the right hand.

• Pluck the intervals of the double stops with a bouncing motion, making use of the flexibility of the strings.
• The shoulder-blade anchor enables arm flexibility in different stages of the movement.
• It is important to practise the double stops in this example very carefully and slowly.
  • Identify the alternation of impulses and relaxedness in your finger movements.
  • Note how the fingers move lightly between the intervals.