Violin Dynamics Chart
Violin Dynamics Chart
Violin Dynamics Chart
NOTATION
NAME
Dynamics
Pianississimo
Pianissimo
Piano
DEFINITION
Dynamics is a term that indicates the degree of loudness or softness in music. The
following commonly used dynamic terms are listed in the order of softest to loudest.*
As soft as possible
Very soft
soft
Mezzo piano
Moderately soft
Mezzo forte
Moderately loud
Forte
Fortissimo
Fortississimo
loud
Very loud
As loud as possible
*Although dynamics softer than ppp or louder than fff are theoretically possible, in actual practice, they are
rarely used.
NAME
DEFINITION
Crescendo
Diminuendo
Accent
Sforzando
DEFINITION
Accelerando
Adagio
A slow, leisurely tempo, often considered to be slower than andante, but not quite as slow as largo. Slow
movements of a piece are sometimes titled adagio.
Agitato
Allegretto
A lively and moderately fast tempo. Often considered to be slower than allegro, but faster than andante.
Allegro
Amore
Andante
Andantino
Animato
Appassionato
Assai
Means "very" in Italian. Modifies other terms when added to them, e.g. allegro assai means very fast.
Assez
Means "enough" or "rather" in French. Modifies other terms when added to them, e.g. assez vif means
"rather lively" in French (vif means lively), or assez vite means "rather fast" (vite means fast).
A tempo
"In tempo," meaning return to the original tempo or speed. Often used after some variation in the tempo.
Bravura
Boldness. Play brilliantly with boldness and spirit. Sometimes used in passages where virtuosic skill is
required of the performer.
Brio
Spirited and lively. Con brio means play with spirit in a vivacious manner.
Cantabile
Play in a singing or vocal style; make the music sing in an expressive manner.
Comodo
Comodo is Italian for a comfortable, leisurely and convenient tempo or speed, neither too fast or too slow.
Con
"With" or in a style expressive of a certain quality. Often used to modify another term such as con spirito,
meaning to play with a spirited style.
Dolce
Fuoco
Grandioso
Grave
Larghetto
Largo
A broad, slow tempo that is dignified and stately in style. Largo is the slowest of tempo markings.
Lento
Means slow in Italian (lent in French). Lento and lent mean a slow tempo in between largo and andante.
Maestoso
Meno
Moderato
Moderate. Play at a moderate tempo or speed. This term sometimes modifies others such as Allegro
moderato, which means moderately fast.
Mosso
Moved. When used alone as a tempo term, the meaning is similar to con moto: with motion. Mosso is
sometimes used with other qualifying terms such as piu mosso, meaning a little faster (more motion).
Moto
Piu
Poco
Motion. Often used with other terms such as con moto (with motion).
More.
"Little" or slightly. A poco a poco means little by little or gradually. Poco modifies other terms when added to
them such as poco diminuendo, meaning to become slightly softer.
Presto
Quasi
"As if," "almost" or "nearly." Often used to modify terms e.g. Allegretto quasi Andantino, meaning an
allegretto tempo almost at an andantino tempo.
Rallentando
Religioso
Risoluto
Ritardando
Gradually becoming slower and slower (the same meaning as rallentando). Ritardando is often abbreviated
as rit.
Rubato
"Robbed." A temporary robbing of time by either slowing or speeding the tempo or rhythmic value of notes
in a passage of music.
Simile
In a similar manner. Often used to indicate a passage of music should be performed in the same manner as
a preceding section.
Semplice
Tempo
Tempo di
valse
Troppo
Too much. Used to modify other terms such as adagio ma non troppo, meaning, slow but not too slow.
Vivace
Lively and brisk. As a tempo marking, vivace is often considered slightly faster than allegro.