Dynamics

Dynamics refers to the loudness of music. A dynamic marking written in music will tell the performer how loud or soft that portion of the music should be played. Composers typically use abbreviations of Italian words that describe volume. Study the chart below to learn about the most common abbreviations and their meanings.

While those are the most common dynamic markings, some composers will indicate that musicians should play extremely loud,, or extremely soft, . There are many dynamic variations but the most important thing is that contrast is achieved.