Dynamics & Articulation Markings
What the volume and articulation marks in sheet music mean — from pp to ff, plus crescendos, accents, staccato, legato and the rest.
| Mark | Italian | Meaning |
|---|
| ppp | pianississimo | as soft as possible |
| pp | pianissimo | very soft |
| p | piano | soft |
| mp | mezzo-piano | moderately soft |
| mf | mezzo-forte | moderately loud |
| f | forte | loud |
| ff | fortissimo | very loud |
| fff | fortississimo | as loud as possible |
Changes & articulations
| Mark | Term | Meaning |
|---|
| cresc. / < | crescendo | gradually growing louder |
| dim. / decresc. / > | diminuendo | gradually growing softer |
| sfz | sforzando | a sudden, forced accent |
| fp | fortepiano | loud, then immediately soft |
| > (over a note) | accent | emphasise this note |
| staccato (dot) | staccato | short and detached |
| legato (slur) | legato | smooth and connected |
| tenuto (—) | tenuto | hold for the note's full value |
| fermata | fermata | pause and hold at the player's discretion |
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