Dynamics
Explore dynamics through music, examples, and listening.
What Are Dynamics?
Dynamics describe how loud or soft music is. Musicians use changes in loudness to shape a phrase, create excitement, or make a passage feel gentle.
Dynamics are different from pitch and tempo. A high note can be soft, and a fast melody can be quiet. Try saying the same word at two comfortable sound levels without changing its speed.
Reading Dynamic Markings
The letter p stands for piano, meaning soft. The letter f stands for forte, meaning loud. The markings mp and mf mean moderately soft and moderately loud.
These markings are relative to the instrument and the music. Forte means a strong musical sound, not shouting or making a harsh noise. Keep your device volume at a comfortable level.
Getting Louder and Softer
A crescendo asks musicians to get gradually louder. Its wedge-shaped sign opens wider as the music grows. A diminuendo or decrescendo asks for the opposite: a gradual change toward a softer sound.
Listen to two sounds with the same pitch and length. Only their loudness changes. Can you tell whether the second sound is louder or softer?