Musical Symbols / Notation: the Classic FM guide

21 October 2014, 17:18 | Updated: 6 January 2017, 14:45

Your comprehensive guide to musical notation and symbols.

Note	Value (beats)	Rest
	= Semibreve / Whole note - 4 beats
	= Minim / Half note - 2 beats
	= Crotchet / Quarter note - 1 note
	= Quaver / Eighth note
	= Semi-quaver / Sixteenth note
	= Demi-semi-quaver / Thirty-second note
	= Hemi-demi-semi-quaver / Sixty-fourth note
	= Sharp
	= Flat

 

Symbol	Dynamics
	= Piano pianissimo
	= Pianissimo
	= Piano
	= Mezzo-piano
	= Mezzo-forte
	= Forte
	= Fortissimo
	= Forte fortissimo
	= Sforzando
	= Forte-piano

 

Miscellaneous Symbols
	= Treble clef
	= Bass clef
	= Tenor clef
	= Ottava alta (an octave above)
	= Ottava bassa (an octave below)
	= Two octaves above
	=  Two octaves below
	= Da capo (from the beginning)
	= Dal segno (from the sign)
	= Segno
	= Coda (go to the coda)
	= Sustain pedal down
	= Release pedal
	= Trill
	= Turn
	= Inverted-turn
	= Mordent
	= Inverted mordent
	= Crescendo (hairpin)
	= Diminuendo / decrescendo (hairpin)
	= Accent
	= Common time (4/4)
	= Alla breve / Cut time (2/2)
	= Fermata (pause)

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