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A Basic List of Musical Terms and Symbols

Terms & symbols that affect dynamics
Symbol cresc. dim. f ff fff fp mf mp p pp ppp sf or sfz Name crescendo diminuendo forte fortissimo fortisissimo forte-piano mezzo-forte mezzo-piano piano pianissimo pianisissimo sforzando What it means growing louder growing softer loud very loud as loud as possible play the note loudly and immediately grow soft moderately loud moderately soft soft very soft very, very soft play the note with much force

Terms and symbols that affect tempo

accel. cal. accelerando calando fermata rall. rit. rubato stretto string. stringendo rallentando ritardando growing faster growing slower and softer hold the note longer than normal growing slower growing slower in a free tempo quicker tempo faster and louder

Other common symbols and terms

- or > or
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accent

play the note

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^ / or // cantabile con crescendo D.C. D.S. da capo dal segno decrescendo dolce break breath mark

slightly louder a longer pause between notes a slight pause between notes singing, songlike with (con espr. = with expression or feeling) growing louder go back to the beginning go back to the sign growing softer sweetly play with a downbow/downstroke downbow or downstroke

espr. fine leg. legg. meno m.d. m.g. molto mosso

espressivo

expressively, with feeling the end (al fine = to the end)

harmonic legato leggero

play the note as a harmonic smoothly, connected lightly less (meno mosso = less movement; a little slower)

main droite main gauche

play with the right hand play with the left hand very (molto rit. = growing very much slower) motion, movement, speed

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pes. pizz. plus pi or peu

pesante pizzicato

heavy pluck the string with the finger more (plus lent = slower) more (pi mosso = more movement; quicker) a little (poco a poco cresc. = gradually grow louder) without (senza rit. = without slowing down)

poco

senza sim. simile slur sordino ! or ' stacc. sul - or ten. tenuto staccato staccato

in the same manner connect the notes smoothly mute (con sordino = with mute) play the note slightly shorter play the note slightly shorter on or near (sul A = play entirely on the A string) hold the note for its full value rapidly playing the same or two alternating notes play the note with an upbow or upstroke

or trem.

tremolo

upbow/upstroke

Standard Tempo Marks (listed in order from slowest to fastest)

Largo
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