Lessons › Theory

Dynamics, articulation and tempo markings

Notes and rhythms tell you what to play. Dynamics, articulation and tempo markings tell you how. They are a large part of what makes a reading sound like music rather than a list of notes.

Dynamics: how loud

Dynamics are written below the staff (between the staves in piano music) as abbreviations of Italian words. From softest to loudest:

• pp pianissimo: very soft
• p piano: soft
• mp mezzo piano: moderately soft
• mf mezzo forte: moderately loud
• f forte: loud
• ff fortissimo: very loud

A dynamic lasts until the next one. The levels are relative, not fixed: forte on a solo flute and forte from a full orchestra are very different sounds. What matters is the contrast between them.

Gradual changes

A crescendo (cresc., or a long opening wedge <) means get gradually louder. A diminuendo or decrescendo (dim., decresc., or a closing wedge >) means get gradually softer. The wedges are often called hairpins. Spread the change across the whole length of the hairpin rather than doing it all at the start.

A few markings are sudden: sfz (sforzando) is a strong accent on one note, fp means loud and then immediately soft, and subito (“suddenly”) before a dynamic means change at once.

Articulation: how each note starts and ends

• Staccato: a dot above or below the note head. Short and detached.
• Tenuto: a short line. Hold the note for its full value, often with slight weight.
• Accent: a sideways wedge (>). Start the note with more emphasis.
• Marcato: an upright wedge (^). A strong, marked accent.
• Slur: a curve over or under notes of different pitch. Play them smoothly connected (legato), with no break.
• Fermata: a curve with a dot under it. Hold the note longer than written, as long as feels right.

Don’t confuse a staccato dot, which sits above or below the note head, with a rhythm dot, which sits to the right of it and makes the note longer.

Tempo: how fast

Tempo is shown at the start of the piece, sometimes as a metronome mark (♩ = 96 means 96 quarter-note beats a minute) and often as an Italian word. From slow to fast, roughly:

• Largo: broad, very slow
• Adagio: slow
• Andante: at a walking pace
• Moderato: moderate
• Allegretto: moderately quick
• Allegro: fast and lively
• Presto: very fast

Changes of tempo include ritardando or rallentando (rit., rall.: gradually slower), accelerando (accel.: gradually faster), and a tempo (return to the original speed).

Reading them at sight

When you sight-read, notes and rhythm come first, but don’t ignore the rest. Before you start, take five seconds to find the tempo marking, the first dynamic, and any obvious changes such as a crescendo to the end or a ritardando at the last line. Getting the general character right (soft and smooth, or loud and spiky) makes a reading sound far better than one that is note-perfect but flat.

See the glossary of music symbols for more markings.