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Understanding musical signs and symbolsDynamics

Composers use a range of signs and symbols to convey how they want their music to be played. Understanding these will help you perform more accurately and with more style.

Part of MusicUnderstanding music

Dynamics

Dynamics tell you how loud or quiet you should play.

Most dynamics are covered in the terms section but there are also two symbols you need to know that indicate crescendo and diminuendo.

Crescendo

A crescendo tells you that your playing needs to get gradually louder over the duration of the symbol.

Dynamic crescendo - an arrow that looks like a less than sign underneath accents of notes showing music getting louder

Crescendo

Diminuendo

A diminuendo means that your playing needs to get gradually quieter over the duration of the symbol.

Dynamic diminuendo - an arrow that looks like a greater than sign underneath notes showing music is getting quieter

Diminuendo