Symbols

 

image\Accents.gif

Accents

Emphasize the note, so that it is louder than surrounding notes.

See Articulation Tool.

 

image\Brackets.gif

Brackets

The brackets indicate the editor's suggestion to perform the music with the enclosed markings, as in [rit.].

See Expression Tool.

 

image\Breath_Mark.gif

Breath mark

Breathe here, generally without disturbing the tempo.

See Articulation Tool

 

image\Cesura.gif

Cesura

(Italian) A pause indicated by a dividing line placed between two melodic and rhythmic phrases.

See Articulation Tool.  

 

image\Coda.gif

Coda

(Italian) Literally "tail." A passage that serves as a formal closing of a movement.

See Repeat Tool.

 

image\Crescendo.gif

Crescendo

(Italian) Becoming gradually louder; increasing in loudness.

See Smart Shape Tool.

 

image\Decrescendo.gif

Decrescendo

(Italian) Becoming gradually softer, decreasing in loudness.

See Smart Shape Tool.

 

image\Fermata.gif

Fermata

(Italian) Pause; hold the note longer than its normal duration.

See Articulation Tool.  

 

image\Forte.gif

Forte

(Italian) With Force. Loud.

See Expression Tool.

 

image\ForteFortissimo.gif

Forte fortissimo

(Italian) With Extreme Force. Extremely loud; as loud as possible.

See Expression Tool.

 

image\FortePiano.gif

Forte piano

(Italian) Begin the note loudly, instantly diminishing to a much softer volume.

See Expression Tool.

 

image\Fortissimo.gif

Fortissimo

(Italian) Very loud.

See Expression Tool.

 

image\Fortissimo_Piano.gif

Fortissimo piano

(Italian) Begin the note very loudly, instantly diminishing to a much softer volume.

See Expression Tool.

 

image\Forzanzo.gif

Forzando

(Italian) Begin the note loudly with a very strong accent.

See Expression Tool

 

image\Forzando2.gif

Forzandissimo (or Sforzandissimo)

(Italian) Begin the note very loudly with a very strong accent.

See Expression Tool

 

image\Forzando3.gif

Forzandissimo (or Sforzandissimo)

(Italian) Begin the note extremely loudly with a very strong accent.

See Expression Tool

 

image\Grace_Note.gif

Grace note

An ornament consisting of a note which embellishes the following note. Played just before the beat or directly on the beat.

See Simple Entry Tool or Speedy Entry Tool.

 

image\Harmonic.gif

Harmonic

A note that is an overtone of a fundamental note of a musical instrument.

See Note Shape Tool in the Special Tools Tool. Or, try the Easy Harmonics plug-in (Plug-ins > TGTools > Easy Harmonics).

 

image\Measure_Repeat.gif

Measure repeat

The measure repeat sign indicates to repeat the previous measure exactly as written.

See Apply Staff Style dialog box.  

 

image\Mezzo_Forte.gif

Mezzo forte

(Italian) Moderately loud.

See Expression Tool

 

image\Mezzo_Forte_Piano.gif

Mezzo forte piano

(Italian) Begin the note moderately loudly, instantly diminishing to a much softer volume.

See Expression Tool

 

image\Mezzo_Piano.gif

Mezzo piano

(Italian) Moderately soft.

See Expression Tool

 

image\Mordent.gif

Mordent

(German) An ornament consisting of a single, rapid alternation of the principal note with the auxiliary note a minor second below.

See Articulation Tool

 

image\Pianissimo.gif

Pianissimo

(Italian) Very soft.

See Expression Tool

 

image\Piano.gif

Piano

(Italian) Soft.

See Expression Tool

 

image\Piano_Pianissimo.gif

Piano pianissimo

(Italian) Extremely soft; as soft as possible.

See Expression Tool

 

image\Phrase_Mark.gif

Phrase mark

A curved mark over a musical "phrase." A phrase is a group of notes related musically, as in one lyric passage in a verse.

See Articulation Tool

 

image\Repeat.gif

Repeat

Indicates the beginning or ending of a section that is to be repeated.

See Repeat Tool.

 

image\Segno.gif

Segno

(Italian) A sign that indicates the beginning or ending of a repeated section; used in terms such as D.S. (Dal Segno), meaning "from the sign."

See Repeat Tool.

 

image\Sforzando1.gif

Sforzando

(Italian) Begin the note loudly, with a marked and sudden emphasis.

See Expression Tool

 

image\Sforzando2.gif

Sforzando

(Italian) Begin the note very loudly, with a marked and sudden emphasis.

See Expression Tool

 

image\Sforzando3.gif

Forzandissimo (or Sforzandissimo)

(Italian) Begin the note extremely loudly, with a marked and sudden emphasis.

See Expression Tool

 

image\Sforzando_Piano.gif

Sforzando piano

(Italian) Begin the note loudly, with a marked and sudden emphasis, instantly diminishing to a much softer volume.

See Expression Tool

 

image\Slur.gif

Slur

A curved line connecting two or more notes. This symbol indicates that the notes within the slur are to be smoothly connected together, with no articulation between the individual tones.

See Smart Shape Tool.

 

image\Staccato.gif

Staccato

(Italian) Articulate the notes with separation between them, not connecting them to one another.

See Articulation Tool

 

image\Stop.gif

Stop

Alter the tone by partially closing the bell (brass instruments), or by using a false fingering (woodwinds).

See Articulation Tool

 

image\Tenuto.gif

Tenuto

(Italian) Literally "held." Stress the note by holding it to its full value.

See Articulation Tool

 

image\Tenuto_Staccato.gif

Tenuto staccato

(Italian) Hold a note for almost its full value, but do not connect it to the succeeding note.

See Articulation Tool

 

image\Tremolo.gif

Tremolo

(Italian) Literally "quivering, fluttering." An ornament consisting of a rapid alternation of tones; or, on a stringed instrument, rapid alternation of up-bows and down-bows.

See Articulation Tool

 

image\Trill.gif

Trill

The rapid alternation of a principal note with its auxiliary note a minor or major second higher.

See Smart Shape Tool.

 

image\Turn.gif

Turn

An ornamental device consisting of the principal note and an upper and lower auxiliary note.

See Articulation Tool

 

image\Vibrato.gif

Vibrato

(Italian) A slight pitch fluctuation used to enrich or add expression to the sound.

See Smart Shape Tool.

 

image\Wedge.gif

Wedge

An especially short and detached note.

See Articulation Tool

 

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Terms and Symbols Contents