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Musical Terms and Symbols

Notes and rests say which sounds and how long. Extra terms and signs say how to play them. Dynamics (pp, p, mp, mf, f, ff, crescendo) show loudness. Tempo words (Largo, Andante, Allegro, Presto) and BPM show speed. Articulation (staccato, legato, accent) shows how notes are joined. Repeat signs, D.C. and the fermata tell where to repeat or hold.

🎬 Step-by-step story

  1. Music is written with symbols for what to play and with terms for how to play it.
  2. Dynamics tell how loud. A taller bar is louder: pp, p, mp, mf, f, ff.
  3. Tempo is speed. Beats per minute tick on the swinging bar: Andante, Allegro, Presto.
  4. Articulation joins or separates notes: staccato is short, legato is smooth, an accent pushes one note.
  5. Signs also tell the player to repeat, to hold a note (fermata) or to go back to the start (D.C.).
  6. Free play: set the loudness and the speed and see the bar and the swinging rod change together.

Tip: drag the 3D scene to turn it. Use two fingers to zoom.

🤔 Common doubts, cleared

Do symbols and terms mean the same thing?

No. Symbols such as notes and rests tell you what to play and for how long. Terms and signs such as p, Allegro and legato tell you how to play it.

Is p always the same loudness?

No. Dynamics are relative: p is softer than mp and louder than pp, but the exact volume depends on the instrument, the room and the player.

How do I get a tempo from a word like Andante?

Each word has a rough BPM range. Andante is about 76-108 BPM. If a number is written (♩ = 90), follow the number. The swinging rod speeds up as you pick faster terms.

What is the difference between staccato and an accent?

Staccato is about length (short). An accent is about force (strong). A note can be both.

How do I know where a repeat goes back to?

To the start sign (dots on the right of a double bar) or to the beginning of the piece if there is no start sign. D.C. always means go to the very beginning.

Can I change loudness and speed at the same time?

Yes, they are separate. Use both sliders in free play and watch the bar (loudness) and the rod (speed) change independently.

Notation symbols: what to play

Music is written on a staff of five lines. A note shows a pitch (how high) and its shape shows how long it lasts. A rest is a silence of a set length. A clef at the start names the lines. Other signs: sharp (♯) raises a note by a semitone, flat (♭) lowers it, natural (♮) cancels them, a tie joins two notes of the same pitch, and a bar line divides the music into bars.

This lesson adds the markings that tell the player how to play those notes.

Musical terms: dynamics (loud and soft)

Dynamics show loudness. Most terms come from Italian:

Crescendo (cresc., a growing wedge <) means get gradually louder. Decrescendo or diminuendo (dim., wedge >) means get gradually softer.

Musical terms: tempo (speed)

Tempo is the speed of the beat. It can be written as words or as BPM (beats per minute, e.g. ♩ = 120).

Ritardando (rit.) = gradually slow down. Accelerando (accel.) = gradually speed up. A tempo = go back to the normal speed.

Articulation, repeats and holds

Articulation shows how to connect notes: staccato (a dot above or below the note) is short and detached; legato (a curved slur over notes) is smooth and joined; an accent (>) gives one note extra force.

Repeat sign: two dots by a double bar mean go back and play again. Fermata (an arc with a dot over a note): hold it longer than its written length. D.C. (da capo): go back to the beginning. Fine (fee-nay) means the end.

Try it

Sing or hum a song you know, such as "Twinkle Twinkle" or the national anthem. First sing it p and Adagio, then f and Allegro. Write the markings above a line of the song. Then add one crescendo and one fermata. Ask a friend to read your markings and sing it your way.

Key formulas and definitions

Worked examples

1. A piece is marked mf, then cresc., then f. Describe what the player does.

Start medium loud (mf), get gradually louder (crescendo), and arrive at loud (f).

2. A song is marked ♩ = 60. How long does one beat last?

60 beats in 60 seconds, so each beat lasts 1 second.

3. Choose a tempo word and a dynamic for a lullaby.

A lullaby is calm and quiet, so Adagio or Andante (slow) and p or pp (soft).

4. A line has a slur over four notes and a staccato dot on the next note. How should it sound?

The four notes under the slur are smooth and joined (legato). The dotted note is short and detached (staccato).

Common mistakes

Practice quiz

1. What does f mean?
2. Allegro means:
3. A curved line joining notes (slur) asks for:
4. A fermata over a note means:
5. Crescendo means:

Practice: answer these yourself

Type or choose your answer, then press Check. Use a hint if you are stuck; the full solution appears after you answer.

Frequently asked questions

Why are most music terms in Italian?

Many of the first printed European scores came from Italy, so the words spread everywhere. Today musicians in all countries use the same Italian words, which makes it easy to read music from any place.

What is the difference between tempo and rhythm?

Tempo is how fast the beat goes. Rhythm is the pattern of long and short sounds placed on the beat.

What does BPM mean?

BPM is beats per minute. 120 BPM means 120 beats every minute, or two beats every second.

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