General placement conventions for playing techniques

Playing techniques, both as text and symbols, are placed above the staff. On vocal staves, they are placed above the staff and below dynamics.

In multiple-voice contexts, playing techniques for the up-stem voices are placed above the staff and playing techniques for the down-stem voices are placed below the staff.

Figure: Placement of playing techniques with two voices on the same staff

Playing technique texts use a plain font, neither bold nor italic, so they are not confused with expressive text and dynamics.