Symbols

Accents

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

See Articulation Tool.

Brackets

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

See Expression Tool.

Breath mark

Breathe here, generally without disturbing the tempo.

See Articulation Tool. 

Cesura

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

See Articulation Tool.  

Coda

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

See Repeat Tool.

Crescendo

(Italian) Becoming gradually louder; increasing in loudness.

See Smart Shape Tool.

Decrescendo

(Italian) Becoming gradually softer, decreasing in loudness.

See Smart Shape Tool.

Fermata

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

See Articulation Tool.  

Forte

(Italian) With Force. Loud.

See Expression Tool.

Forte fortissimo

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

See Expression Tool.

Forte piano

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

See Expression Tool.

Fortissimo

(Italian) Very loud.

See Expression Tool.

Fortissimo piano

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

See Expression Tool.

Forzando

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

See Expression Tool. 

Forzandissimo (or Sforzandissimo)

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

See Expression Tool. 

Forzandissimo (or Sforzandissimo)

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

See Expression Tool. 

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.

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).

Measure repeat

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

See Apply Staff Style dialog box.  

Mezzo forte

(Italian) Moderately loud.

See Expression Tool. 

Mezzo forte piano

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

See Expression Tool. 

Mezzo piano

(Italian) Moderately soft.

See Expression Tool. 

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. 

Pianissimo

(Italian) Very soft.

See Expression Tool. 

Piano

(Italian) Soft.

See Expression Tool. 

Piano pianissimo

(Italian) Extremely soft; as soft as possible.

See Expression Tool. 

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. 

Repeat

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

See Repeat Tool.

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.

Sforzando

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

See Expression Tool. 

Sforzando

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

See Expression Tool. 

Forzandissimo (or Sforzandissimo)

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

See Expression Tool. 

Sforzando piano

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

See Expression Tool. 

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.

Staccato

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

See Articulation Tool. 

Stop

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

See Articulation Tool. 

Tenuto

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

See Articulation Tool. 

Tenuto staccato

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

See Articulation Tool. 

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. 

Trill

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

See Smart Shape Tool.

Turn

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

See Articulation Tool. 

Vibrato

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

See Smart Shape Tool.

Wedge

An especially short and detached note.

See Articulation Tool. 

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