Theory 1 | Unit 5 Flashcards
piano

soft
forte

loud
mezzo piano

moderately soft
mezzo forte

moderately loud
pianissimo

very soft
fortissimo

very loud
crescendo or cresc.

gradually louder
decrescendo or decresc.
diminuendo or dim.

gradually softer
Largo
Very Slow
Adagio
Slow
Andante
Moving along
Moderato
Moderately
Allegro
Quickly, cheerfully
Vivace
Lively and fast
ritardando
ritard. or rit.
gradually slower
accelerando
accel.
gradually faster

staccato
play the note short and detached

accent
play the note louder, with a special emphasis

sforzando
a sudden, strong acccent, the Italian word means “forcing”

tenuto
hold the note for its full value

fermata
hold the note longer than its normal value
(appox. thwice the normal duration)
Da Capo
D.C.
repeat from the beginning
Dal Segno
D.S.

repeat from the sign
Fine
Fine
The End
Coda

An added ending
Italian tempos in order
slow
to
fast
Vivace - Lively and Fast
Allegro - Quickly, Cheerfully
Moderato - Moderate
Andante - Moving Along
Adagio - Slow
Largo - Very Slow