Musical Notation for Dynamics
The below are ordered from left to right in ascending loudness or volume, harshness or aggression in sound. The acronyms are used in musical notation to indicate the relative loudness, harshness or aggression in play for a system, segment, or bar of music, at the beginning of that system/segment/bar. This blend of qualities is often referred to as the dynamics of the given track. There are, then, six total relative gradations in volume, and they have names:
- Pianissimo–the minimum in volume, softness or aggression for the given musical system/segment/bar
- Piano–slightly louder, harsher or more aggressive sound
- Mezzo-piano–approximating moderate loudness, harshness or aggression, with slight lean towards quietude/softness/equanimity
- Mezzo-forte–approximating moderate loudness, harshness or aggression, with slight lean towards loudness/harshness/aggression
- Forte–much louder, harsher or more aggressive sound
- Fortissimo–the maximum in volume, harshness or aggression for the given musical system/segment/bar
For an instrument such as a bass guitar, this value is associated with the degree of aggression or force applied in the plucking, slapping or strumming hand.
In addition, the transition or progression from one relative volume to another can be represented as two distinct symbols, depending on whether this transition involves an increase or decrease in volume/strength/aggression: crescendo involves increase, whereas decrescendo involves decrease. The symbols, as seen below, can be as elongated as possible, above a system, segment or bar of a music sheet, often retaining their height proportional to the height of its corresponding stave.
musical_notation music_theory dynamics musical_track dynamics symbol forces instruments degrees bass_guitar acronym musical_bar values music_sheet proportion proportionality fraction crescendo decrescendo pianissimo piano mezzo-piano mezzo-forte forte fortissimo musicology amplitude wave_amplitude acoustics acoustic_distortion acoustic_amplitude acoustic_volume sonic_volume sonic_amplitude auditory_volume distortion string_instrument strummed_string_instrument plucked_string_instrument chordophone chordophones composite_chordophone composite_chordophones
bibliography
- Add Emotion with Dynamics. Performed by Josh Fossgreen. Beginner to Badass. BassBuzz, n.d. 11:40.