A
bent note is a
musical note that is varied in
pitch. With
unfretted strings or other continuous-pitch instruments such as the
trombone, or with the human
voice, such variation is more properly described in terms of
intonation. Bent notes are commonly played on fretted instruments, literally by bending the string with excess finger pressure, or on
free reed instruments such as the
harmonica, by using excess air pressure to overblow the reed. On brass instruments such as the trumpet, the note is bent by using the lip.