DYNAMICS

The two basic dynamic indications in music are:

• p or piano, meaning "soft"
• f or forte, meaning "loud"

More subtle degrees of loudness or softness are indicated by:

• mp, standing for mezzo-piano, meaning "moderately soft"
• mf, standing for mezzo-forte, meaning "moderately loud"

Beyond f and p, there are also

• ff, standing for "fortissimo", and meaning "very loud",
• pp, standing for "pianissimo", and meaning "very soft",

There are also crescendo and decrescendo meaning gradually getting louder and gradually getting softer and are indicated as follows:

crescendo <

decrescendo >