Another important aspect of articulating notes is the use of accents. Accent markings are used to indicate notes which are to be played louder than other notes. There are two common types of accents, these being a tenuto accent (long) and a staccato accent (short). The long accent is indicated by a horizontal wedge mark above or below the note. The staccato accent is indicated by a vertical wedge mark above or below the note.
This example uses both types of accents. Try adding accents to phrases you already know and then try using them in your improvising.