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Dynamics
In music, dynamics normally refers to the volume of a composition.
It is relative and do not indicate specific volume levels.
Basics |
Notations |
Definitions |
|---|---|---|
| pianissississississimo | pppppp | as soft as possible |
| pianississississimo | ppppp | extremely soft |
| pianissississimo | pppp | |
| pianississimo | ppp | very soft |
| pianissimo | pp | |
| piano | p | soft |
| mezzo piano | mp | moderately soft |
| mezzo forte | mf | moderately loud |
| forte | F | loud |
| fortissimo | ff | very loud |
| fortississimo | fff | extremely loud |
| fortissississimo | ffff | as loud as possible |
Accented Notes |
Notations |
Definitions |
|---|---|---|
| forzando or forzato | fz or ffz | begin the note loudly with a very strong accent |
| sforzando | sf or sff or sfff | loud and accented with accent mark |
| sforzato | sfz or sffz or sfffz | loud and accented with legato |
Gradual Transitions |
Notations |
Definitions |
|---|---|---|
| crescendo | cresc. or  |
gradually becoming louder |
| decrescendo | decr. or decresc. or  |
gradually becoming softer |
| diminuendo | dim. or dimin. or |
gradually becoming softer |