Dynamics

Table of Contents

Marks
Signs
Terms

MARKS (the most commonly used dynamic notation):

• Marks are always printed in boldface italics, in a type reserved solely for dynamic markings.

• Placement on the staff:

  When marks are placed within the staff, the cross stems of "f" marks should fall in the spaces, not on the staff lines. The openings of "p" marks should be placed so staff lines run through them.
  

  Single staff instrumental music

  • The mark should fall below the staff, unless crowded conditions make overlapping necessary.
    

  • The mark should usually go directly beneath the note it defines. Multiple marks should straddle the stem of the notehead.

  Vocal Music
  • Marks go right above the staff so they don't conflict with lyrics. In crowded conditions, or when notes are low on the staff, marks can be placed lower, falling within the staff lines.

  Keyboard Music
  • Marks are placed in the middle of the 2 staves, if they are the same for both staves. If each staff has its own individual dynamic, marks are placed right below the staff they apply to.

  • If there are lyrics in the piano score, the mark usually goes below the lyric, but it may go above if there is no room below.

  
  
  

SIGNS:

• Wedge-shaped dynamic signs sshould be as close to a horizontal position as they can be.

• A sign extends for as long as the passage it is affecting, but for passages longer than 3 measures, a term or abbreviation is generally used.

• The lines of the wedge shape should be the thickness of a staff line. The space between the two lines should not exceed 1.5 spaces.

• Signs should not overlap with stems and slurs unless crowded conditions make it necessary.

• Terms should be placed above or below wedges, not inside them: this may make it hard to read or force the wedge space to be too large.

• Marks should be horizontally aligned with signs.

• Signs can break off at the end of a staff and continue on the next, starting in an open position.

TERMS:

• Terms are always in lowercase, boldface italic type that matches the staff size and the size the lyric type.

• Dotted lines usually follow a term or abbreviation to indicate how long the dynamic lasts.