What dynamics are
Dynamics describe how loud or soft the music is. In sheet music they appear as italic letters under the staff, almost always in Italian, and last until a new one appears.
Dynamics are relative: what matters is the contrast between sections.
Table: from pp to ff
| Marking | Italian name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ppp | pianississimo | as soft as possible |
| pp | pianissimo | very soft |
| p | piano | soft |
| mp | mezzo piano | moderately soft |
| mf | mezzo forte | moderately loud (the “normal” volume) |
| f | forte | loud |
| ff | fortissimo | very loud |
| fff | fortississimo | as loud as possible |
Fun fact: the piano got its name from “pianoforte”, because it was one of the first keyboards that could play soft and loud depending on the touch.
Crescendo and diminuendo
Gradual changes are written with hairpins:
- 𝆒 Crescendo (cresc.): the hairpin opens, the sound grows.
- 𝆓 Decrescendo or diminuendo (decresc., dim.): the hairpin closes, the sound fades.
Other common words: subito (suddenly, as in subito p), poco a poco (little by little), morendo (dying away).
Accent, sforzando and fp
| Marking | Name | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| > over a note | Accent | play that note louder than its neighbors |
| sfz or sf | Sforzando | a sudden strong attack on a single note |
| fp | Fortepiano | start loud and drop to soft right away |
Now put the theory into your fingers
In Dedilhado Vivo you learn flute, guitar, violin or piano by seeing each finger on the screen, and the app listens to you play through the microphone.
Practice theory in the free appDynamics on each instrument
- Flute: loud comes from a faster air stream, not just more air. Blowing harder tends to make the note sharp and playing soft makes it flat: aim the air slightly lower when loud and slightly higher when soft. Check with the online tuner.
- Violin: bow weight, bow speed and contact point: near the bridge is louder, near the fingerboard is softer.
- Piano: volume comes from how fast the key goes down, not from pressing harder afterwards.
- Guitar: attack harder or softer and change position: over the sound hole is warm, near the bridge is brighter.
Frequently asked questions
What does mf mean in music?
Mezzo forte, moderately loud. It is the medium volume used when the music asks for nothing special.
What is the difference between p and pp?
p (piano) is soft; pp (pianissimo) is very soft.
What is a crescendo?
Getting louder little by little. It is written as cresc. or as a hairpin that opens.
Are diminuendo and decrescendo the same?
Yes. Both mean getting softer gradually.