Dynamics and Articulation in Written Music

Standard notation also includes dynamics and articulation guidelines that tell the musician how to play certain notes in the piece.

Dynamics refers to the volume, or loudness, of notes. Musicians create dynamics by varying the force with which they play notes, such as striking the keys of a piano harder or blowing softer into a saxophone. Dynamics are indicated with Italian words, such as forte (loud or strong), or with symbols, such as crescendo and decrescendo, written below the staff. The table below contains some of the most common dynamics words and symbols.

Articulation indicators are words or symbols that tell musicians how to express specific notes or passages of a piece. The symbols in the table below appear directly above the note or series of notes that should be articulated.