Piano Guidance
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What is the Italian word for PP in music?

pianissimo 2. Dynamics Term Symbol Meaning pianissimo pp very soft piano p soft mezzo piano mp moderately soft mezzo forte mf moderately loud 4 more rows

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Italian words are commonly used in music notation to instruct performers on how to play a piece of music. First used by 17th-century Italian composers, the terminology has since spread to the rest of the world.

Contents Tempo Dynamics Techniques Moods Repeats General

1. Tempo

List of tempo markings. The specified number of beats-per-minute (BPM) is only a general guide. In modern music, a metronome mark indicating the number of BPM (such as ♩= 120) may supplement or replace the tempo marking. Term Meaning BPM adagietto rather slow, slightly faster than adagio 72-76 adagio slow 66-76 allegretto moderately fast, slightly slower than allegro 112-120 allegrissimo very fast, faster than allegro 172-176 allegro fast 120-168 allegro moderato moderately fast, slightly slower than allegro 116-120 andante walking pace 76-108 andante moderato moderate walking pace, faster than andante 92-112 andantino moderate tempo, slightly faster than andante 80-108 grave very slow 25-45 larghetto rather slow and broad, slightly faster than largo 60-66 larghissimo extremely slow, slower than largo 25 and below largo very slow and broad 40-60 lento slow 45-60 moderato moderately 108-120 prestissimo extremely fast, faster than presto 200 and above presto very fast 168-200 vivace fast and lively 140-176 vivacissimo very fast and lively, faster than vivace 172-176

Tempo changes

List of tempo changes. Words for gradual changes can be extended with dashes to indicate the duration of the change, for example "rit. _ _ _". Term Abbreviation Meaning a piacere at pleasure, the tempo may be decided by the performer a tempo resume previous tempo rallentando rall. gradually slower ritardando rit., ritard. gradually slower ritenuto riten. immediately slower rubato in free time, no steady beat stringendo gradually faster, literally "tightening" accelerando accel. gradually faster

2. Dynamics

List of dynamic markings. The markings indicate the relative variation in loudness and do not refer to specific volume levels. Contrary to other italian markings, dynamic markings are usually written below the staff or centered between the two staves in the grand staff. Term Symbol Meaning pianississimo ppp as soft as possible pianissimo pp very soft piano p soft mezzo piano mp moderately soft mezzo forte mf moderately loud forte f loud fortissimo ff very loud fortississimo fff as loud as possible

Dynamic changes

List of dynamic changes. The hairpins ( ) are used for dynamic changes over just a few bars, while cresc. and dim. are used for changes over a longer period. Word directions can be extended with dashes to indicate the duration of the change. Term Symbol Meaning crescendo cresc. or gradually louder diminuendo dim. or gradually softer fortepiano fp loud, then immediately soft sforzando, forzando, szforzato sfz , sf or fz suddenly accented (applied to a note or chord) rinforzando rfz or rf reinforced (applied to a note, chord or phrase)

3. Techniques

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List of common terms for playing techniques. The terms instruct the performer to use a certain playing technique in order to produce the desired sound. Term Abbreviation Meaning arpeggio arp. chord notes played in succession rather than simultaneously glissando gliss. a continuous slide from one note to another legato notes played with a smooth connection between them mano destra m.d. right hand mano sinistra m.s. left hand con sordino with a mute or (on piano) without the sustain pedal senza sordino without a mute or (on piano) with the sustain pedal pressed pizzicato pizz. plucked with the finger rather than bowed portamento port. a smooth slide from one note to another tutti performed by the entire ensemble staccato stacc. shortened and sharply separated notes staccatissimo staccatiss. shortened and extremely separated notes vibrato a rapid repeated slight change in the pitch of a note

4. Moods

List of common mood terms. The terms help the performer to capture the mood of a piece through variations in tempo, dynamics and articulation. Term Meaning agitato agitated animato animated, lively cantabile in a singing style con amore with love con brio with spirit, with vigor con fuoco with fiery manner con moto with movement dolce sweet doloroso sorrowful energico energetic espressivo expressive grazioso graceful leggiero light, nimble maestoso majestic marcato marked, accented risoluto decisive, strong scherzando playful sostenuto sustained tenuto held, sustained tranquillo calm

5. Repeats

List of directions for repeats. The directions are used as navigation markers to instruct the performer to repeat a certain section of the piece. Term Symbol Meaning Fine the end of a piece Coda the concluding passage of a piece Segno the beginning or end of a repeat Da Capo D.C. repeat from the beginning Da Capo al Fine D.C. al Fine repeat from the beginning to the word Fine Da Capo al Coda D.C. al Coda repeat from the beginning to the sign (sometimes replaced by To Coda), then skip to the concluding Coda passage Da Capo al Segno D.C. al Segno repeat from the beginning to the sign Dal Segno D.S. repeat from the sign Dal Segno al Fine D.S. al Fine repeat from the sign to the word Fine Dal Segno al Coda D.S. al Coda repeat from the sign to the sign (sometimes replaced by To Coda), then skip to the concluding Coda passage

6. General

List of general terms. The terms are commonly used in conjunction with other terms, such as allegro molto (very fast) and con amore (with love).

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