Lesson 1
Pitch Notation

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piano keyboard
symbols
noteNamesPDF

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9

Dynamics

Musicians generally use Italian terms to describe dynamics. As learned in the Prelude, dynamics refer to the loudness or softness of a musical sound.

In the era when these terms began to be used regularly in Western music, Italy dominated the musical scene. The two basic terms used are forte (loud) and piano (soft). The harpsichord, an earlier keyboard instrument, was incapable of being played at varying dynamic levels based on how hard or soft the keys were depressed. During the eighteenth century, manufacturers began experimenting with new techniques of sound production for keyboard instruments. They began making instruments in which a hammer struck the string when a key was depressed. Depending on how forcefully the keys were depressed affected the dynamic level of the notes played. One of these newfangled instruments was called a pianoforte or, "soft-loud." Today, the name has been shortened to merely piano, even though we all realize varying dynamics are possible.

Following is a list of terms and symbols used to represent dynamic levels.

     
  Italian term Abbreviation/symbol Definition

  pianissimo

very soft

  piano

soft

  mezzo piano

moderately soft

  mezzo forte

moderately loud

  forte

loud

  fortissimo

very loud

  crescendo

cresc. or <

gradually louder

  decrescendo

decresc. or > gradually softer
  diminuendo dim.  or > gradually softer

very soft

very loud