Music Markings: Tempo, Dynamics, Articulation, and Form

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering tempo, dynamics, articulation, and musical form markings and their definitions.

Tempo

The speed of music.

Tempo Markings

Markings that tell you how fast or slow a piece should be performed.

Dynamic Markings

Symbols indicating varying levels of volume throughout a piece, telling you how loud or soft you should perform.

a tempo

Return to original tempo.

accelerando (accel.)

Go faster, accelerate.

poco a poco

Little by little.

ritardando

Gradually slower.

pianissimo (pp)

Very soft.

piano (p)

Soft.

mezzo piano (mp)

Medium soft.

mezzo forte (mf)

Medium loud.

forte (f)

Loud.

fortissimo (ff)

Very loud.

crescendo (cresc.)

Gradually louder.

diminuendo (dim.)

Gradually softer.

decrescendo

Gradually softer.

Articulation Markings

Symbols accompanying musical notes that tell you how long to hold a note or how pointed or smooth the attack should be, helping add character to a piece.

staccato

Short, detached.

legato

Smooth, held full value.

accent

With a sharp attack.

fermata

A hold; held longer than normal.

Musical Form Markings

Musical road signs that serve as keys to the map leading from one section of music to another.

al

To; used with coda or fine.

coda

The final section of music.

da capo (D.C.)

From the beginning (head).

dal segno (D.S.)

From the sign.

dal segno al coda (D.S. al Coda)

From the sign to the coda.

1st or 2nd ending

Repeat with different ending.

fine

The end.

repeat

Repeat section between signs.

segno

The sign.