|
Terms & symbols that affect dynamics |
| Symbol |
Name |
What it means |
| cresc. |
crescendo |
growing louder |
| dim. |
diminuendo |
growing softer |
| f |
forte |
loud |
| ff |
fortissimo |
very loud |
| fff |
fortisissimo |
as loud as possible |
| fp |
forte-piano |
play the note loudly and immediately grow soft |
| mf |
mezzo-forte |
moderately loud |
| mp |
mezzo-piano |
moderately soft |
| p |
piano |
soft |
| pp |
pianissimo |
very soft |
| ppp |
pianisissimo |
very, very soft |
| sf or sfz |
sforzando |
play the note with much force |
|
Terms and symbols that affect tempo |
| accel. |
accelerando |
growing faster |
| cal. |
calando |
growing slower and softer |
 |
fermata |
hold the note longer than normal |
| rall. |
rallentando |
growing slower |
| rit. |
ritardando |
growing slower |
| rubato |
|
in a free tempo |
| stretto |
|
quicker tempo |
| string. |
stringendo |
faster and louder |
|
Other common symbols and terms |
| - or > or ^ |
accent |
play the note slightly louder |
| / or // |
break |
a longer pause between notes |
| ’ |
breath mark |
a slight pause between notes |
| cantabile |
|
singing, songlike |
| con |
|
with (con espr. = with expression or feeling) |
| crescendo |
growing louder |
| D.C. |
da capo |
go back to the beginning |
| D.S. |
dal segno |
go back to the sign |
| decrescendo |
growing softer |
| dolce |
|
sweetly |
| downbow/downstroke |
play with a downbow or downstroke |
| espr. |
espressivo |
expressively, with feeling |
| fine |
|
the end (al fine = to the end) |
| ° |
harmonic |
play the note as a harmonic |
| leg. |
legato |
smoothly, connected |
| legg. |
leggero |
lightly |
| meno |
|
less (meno mosso = less movement; a little slower) |
| m.d. |
main droite |
play with the right hand |
| m.g. |
main gauche |
play with the left hand |
| molto |
|
very (molto rit. = growing very much slower) |
| mosso |
|
motion, movement, speed |
| pes. |
pesante |
heavy |
| pizz. |
pizzicato |
pluck the string with the finger |
| plus |
|
more (plus lent = slower) |
| più or peu |
|
more (più mosso = more movement; quicker) |
| poco |
|
a little (poco a poco cresc. = gradually grow louder) |
| senza |
|
without (senza rit. = without slowing down) |
| sim. |
simile |
in the same manner |
 |
slur |
connect the notes smoothly |
| sordino |
|
mute (con sordino = with mute) |
| · or ' |
staccato |
play the note slightly shorter |
| stacc. |
staccato |
play the note slightly shorter |
| sul |
|
on or near (sul A = play entirely on the A string) |
| - or ten. |
tenuto |
hold the note for its full value |
 or trem. |
tremolo |
rapidly playing the same or two alternating notes |
 |
upbow/upstroke |
play the note with an upbow or upstroke |