Accelerando (or accel.) – Gradually getting faster

(Pronounced ak-sel-uh-ran-doh)

Ready! Steady! Accelerate-and-go! (accelerando) The two boys start pedalling their go-carts and gradually get quicker.

The Italian music command accelerando (often abbreviated accel.) is an indication to gradually increase the tempo of a song until otherwise noted.

Examples of accelerando in a sentence

The folk instrumental goes through a period of accelerando, eventually transforming into a lively jig.

The arranger moved the accelerando to later in the piece, so it led gradually into the quick-paced finale.

Accelerando is the hallmark of this sonata, which starts off very slowly, accelerating throughout until the mandolin players' fingers are just a blur.

Adagio – Very slow

(Pronounced uh-dah-zhee-oh)

The adder, she goes (adagio) very slowly so we have to wait for her.

Adagio is even slower than lento.

Examples of adagio in a sentence

She played it as adagio throughout, bringing a dreamy, almost surreal aspect to what has traditionally been a more vibrant violin solo.

First, she skipped quickly and lightly through the piece; for contrast, she then played it adagio, more contemplatively, slowing the pace, delighting the audience.

There are two adagio sections in the third movement; their slow pace and bleak notes tug at the audience's heartstrings.

Allegretto – Fairly quickly (but not as quick as allegro)

(Pronounced al-i-gret-oh)

Because there is no queue at the alley grotto (allegretto) you can see Santa fairly quickly.

Examples of allegretto in a sentence

"Allegretto!" shouted the conductor. "I want it to go faster - but not too fast, please!"

The music critic said the allegretto part was too slow and the piece had generally been misinterpreted.

She misunderstood what allegretto meant and played the piece at a tremendous pace; no one was impressed.

Allegro – Quick (literally 'cheerful')

(Pronounced ah-leg-roh)

The athlete had a leg grow (allegro) and cheerfully ran quickly to win the race.

Examples of allegro in a sentence

She was quite new to the flute and could barely keep up when the orchestra got to the allegro section of the piece.

The kettle drummer loved playing allegro parts when he could put some real pace and occasional thunder into the music.

Allegro was hardly the word for the orchestra's finale - the speed at which they played it was breathtaking.

Andante – At a medium ("walking") speed

(Pronounced ahn-dahn-tay)

I took my dog and auntie (andante) for a walk at a medium speed.

Andante is used to describe music with a relatively slow, moderate pace. You could be asked to play andante particularly in classical music. It is sometimes described as "at a walking pace". 

Examples of andante in a sentence

The review said the performance was mediocre because the orchestra overdid the andante, playing everything at a medium speed.

The pace slowed until the orchestra settled into a steady andante.

Too much andante in the piece robs it of its intended character, which is taciturn and at times unpredictable unless you've heard it many times.

Cantabile – In a singing style

(Pronounced kahn-tah-bee-lay)

Note: In music, cantabile, an Italian word, means literally "singable" or "songlike". In instrumental music it is a particular style of playing designed to imitate the voice.

Tonight they proved you can't table lay (cantabile) while singing opera.

Examples of cantabile in a sentence

The sing-song cantabile style was inappropriate for that particular movement.

Cantabile is okay if you like your instrumentals to sound like voices, but I prefer punchier sounds myself.

When they played cantabile, it was hard to tell if wind instruments or voices were making the haunting sounds.

Crescendo – Gradually getting louder

(Pronounced kri-shen-doh)

When the creche ends (crescendo) the noise gets gradually louder as children see their parents.

Examples of crescendo in a sentence

The third movement builds up to a crescendo, becoming so loud it's almost deafening.

The whole song is really a crescendo, starting off slowly and quietly, but building inexorably towards ear-splitting delirium.

Too many crescendos can ruin a piece - the repeated increase and decrease in volume can become tedious.

Da Capo (or D.C.) – Repeating from the beginning

(Pronounced dah-kah-poh)

He'd dropped his cap - oh dear! (capo). It meant he had to repeat from the beginning.

Examples of da capo in a sentence

They started again from the beginning several times: it wasn't intentional da capo - they just kept getting it wrong!

The opening chorus has three da capos - some critics think this amount of repetition is tedious.

Her composition, she thought, was far too short, so she put in a couple of da capos to fill it out.

Dal Segno (or D.S.) – Repeat from the sign  #segno

(Pronounced dahl-seyn-yoh)

The steward is worried they'll say no (dal segno), because they have to repeat from the sign and queue again tomorrow!

Examples of dal segno in a sentence

He didn't know what dal segno meant, so blundered on through the piece while everyone else started again from the sign.

The conductor decided to remove the dal segno - the piece was long enough without repeating part of it.

It's very easy to miss a dal segno and carry on without the intended repetition when you're reading sheet music.

Decrescendo – Gradually getting quieter

(Pronounced dee-kri-shen-doh)

The decrease in the noise after creche ended (decrescendo), as the parents drove away was a gradual decline but it was such a relief. 

Decrescendo means to decrease in volume while diminuendo means to decrease in volume and slow down.

Examples of decrescendo in a sentence

The passage got so quiet at the decrescendo that I could barely hear a note.

At one point we have a wall of dissonant sound, then it begins to fade to almost imperceptible melody: the effect of this decrescendo is incredible.

In her previous compositions, the fireworks came at the end; in her new piece, the end is more like a petering out, a decrescendo.

Diminuendo – Gradually getting quieter and slowing down

(Pronounced dih-min-yoo-en-doh)

The sound of the foghorn will dim in the end (diminuendo): as you speed away from the shore it will gradually get quieter. Now the noise is less he can gradually slow down too.

Note: Decrescendo means to decrease in volume while diminuendo means to decrease in volume and slow down. 

Examples of diminuendo in a sentence

The violinist introduced diminuendo at the end of her performance, slowing the pace and reducing volume almost to the point of inaudibility.

His first diminuendo impressed the audience, maintaining the lively character of the piece while it became slower and quieter.

The fast pace and high volume diminished gradually into diminuendo, changing the mood from celebration to introspection.

Fine – The end

(Pronounced fee-nay)

The shark had a fin shaped like an A (fine) at the end of its tail.

Examples of fine in a sentence

Although she'd reached fine in the sheet music, she decided it should not be the end and carried on playing. 

The conductor took the violinist to task after he failed to stop playing when they reached fine.

She was glad when they reached fine because she hated that particular movement of the symphony.

Forte – Loud

(Pronounced for-tay)

Note: forte is usually shown on music lines as #forte

The battle at the fort was a (forte) loud one. The fort had a large #forte above the drawbridge.

Examples of forte in a sentence

The reviewer stated that the choir's performance had needed more volume in the forte passages.

Having a loud, booming voice, David really enjoyed singing the forte parts of the arias.

She had a rather weak voice and could not do justice to the forte sections of the songs.

Fortissimo – Very loud

(Pronounced fawr-tis-uh-moh)

Note: Fortissimo is usually shown on music as: #fortissimo

The forty sumo (fortissimo) wrestlers' shouts were very loud.

To remember that fortissimo = #fortissimo

Forty-four = #fortissimo

So, was it forty four sumo wrestlers?

Examples of fortissimo in a sentence

She was hard of hearing so played her classical music albums very loud; the neighbours covered their ears during the noisiest fortissimo parts.

All is calm and melodious at the start of the sonata, but then the gods of war are summoned in the fortissimo passage.

The orchestra was playing too quietly for the conductor's liking: "Fortissimo," he bellowed. "Louder! Much louder!"

Legato – Smoothly

(Pronounced luh-gah-toh)

To complete the tattoo leg art (legato), he needed a smooth leg.

Examples of legato in a sentence

Their playing of the piece was erratic and juddery - the orchestra leader called for legato, saying their style needed to be much smoother.

The cellist's legato style was so smooth it was pure delight to the ears.

As a rock musician, his approach had been raunchy; now, as a classical guitarist, his style was more legato: smooth and calming. 

Lento – Slow

(Pronounced len-toh)

He was so leant over (lento) on his stick that he was very slow.

Examples of lento in a sentence

They sang the cantata in lento style, but it should really have been much faster.

It's a slow waltz, she said: please play it lento and don't be tempted to speed up.

The drummer set the band's pace, and it was nearly always lento - too slow, and the reason why they were unpopular.

Mezzo – Half

(Pronounced met-soh)

They met to sew (mezzo) exactly half way between their houses.

Note: Mezzo is the Italian word for "half", "middle" or "medium".

Examples of mezzo in a sentence

She explained to him that mezzo meant "half", or "moderately"; now he understood that a mezzo singer was halfway between a soprano and a contralto, and that mezzo-forte meant half, or moderately, loud.

Her mezzo voice was ideal for the song because she could not sing high or low, but halfway in between.

The lexicographer wrote that mezzo was a mid-18th Century Italian word that came from the Latin "medius", meaning "middle".

Mezzo Forte (mf.) – Literally "half" loud; moderately loud

(Pronounced met-soh for-tay)

We can remember this if we deal with each word separately.

Mezzo – Half

(Pronounced met-soh)

They met to sew (mezzo) exactly half way between their houses.

Note: Mezzo is the Italian word for "half", "middle" or "medium".

Now we can learn forte

Forte – Loud

(Pronounced for-tay)

Note: forte is usually shown on music lines as #forte

The battle at the fort was a (forte) loud one. The fort had a large #forte above the drawbridge.

Now we can put definitions of mezzo and forte together as:

Mezzo = half  forte = loud

Mezzo forte = half loud

Examples of mezzo forte in a sentence

At this stage in his career, the more mature singer could only attain mezzo forte - much louder pieces were now out of the question.

Some pieces of music lose their subtlety if sung too loudly; such musical compositions are more suited to mezzo forte.

The movement was played as mezzo forte, but it should have been at least twice as loud to bring out the intended battling spirit.

Mezzo Piano (MP) – Literally "half" quiet, moderately quiet

(Pronounced met-soh pee-an-oh)

We can remember this if we deal with each word separately.

Mezzo (M.) – Half

(Pronounced met-soh)

They met to sew (mezzo) exactly half way between their houses.

Note: Mezzo is the Italian word for "half", "middle" or "medium" and is often abbreviated to M.

Now we can learn piano:

Piano (P.) – Quietly

(Pronounced pee-an-oh)

Note: Piano is Italian and in music it means play quietly.

The tiny mouse played the piano so quietly so that she didn't wake anyone up.

Note: often abbreviated to P.

Now we can put the definitions of mezzo and piano together as

Mezzo = half piano = quiet

Mezzo piano = half quiet

Examples of mezzo piano in a sentence

The classical pianist rarely ventured above the level of mezzo piano: he didn't like his music to be very quiet or very loud.

Some music is so powerful that it never has to be played louder than mezzo piano.

To conserve her voice, the opera star did not sing above mezzo piano for several consecutive nights.

Moderato – at a moderate pace

(Pronounced mod-uh-rah-toh)

We only need to change one letter to remember the definition of this word.

Change the o to an e should be enough to remember this word.

Examples of moderato in a sentence

The first sonata in the series is marked moderato, to be played at a medium tempo.

Although the sheet music said it should be played moderato, she attacked the test piece at blistering speed and was not offered a place at the conservatoire.

He decided it would be fun to speed up the piece, even though it was supposed to be played moderato.

Piano (P.) – Quietly

(Pronounced pee-an-oh)

Note: Piano is Italian and in music it means play quietly.

The tiny mouse played the piano so quietly so that she didn't wake anyone up.

Note: often abbreviated to P.

Examples of piano in a sentence

Playing the piece piano style was not really an option: the hall was huge and the sound would not carry.

In the piano section, the French horn must be played quietly to evoke a sense of eeriness.

She was too heavy on the timpani in the piano part and the conductor signalled her to play more quietly.

Pianissimo (PP.) – Very quiet

(Pronounced pee-uh-niss-im-oh)

Note: abbreviated often to PP. (double quiet i.e. very quiet).

Will she pee on this sumo (pianissimo)? The baby is very quiet, but she is full of surprises! 

Examples of pianissimo in a sentence

She played her harp in pianissimo style, so quietly it could barely be heard, but the quietness added to the mysterious quality of the piece.

The punk band had never heard of pianissimo - every performance for them was loud and raucous.

The players started off loudly, but ended in a much quieter, pianissimo mode.

Poco – A little

(Pronounced poh-koh)

Note: Poco is often used in the context of "poco a poco" which means "little by little" - e.g., "Accelerando poco a poco" means "accelerate little by little".

Their Thursday night poker (poco) game was a little treat after a hard week's scavenging.

Examples of mezzo in a sentence

As each instrument is introduced to the piece, the sound builds poco a poco until it becomes fully orchestral.

The song slows down poco a poco rather than suddenly changing tempo, then builds back up in the same way, little by little.

Her voice fades poco a poco towards the end of the recording, trailing off into nothingness.

Rallentando (or rallo) – Gradually getting slower

(Pronounced rah-luhn-tahn-doh)

As Dad approached the rally on a tandem (rallentando) he got gradually slower.

Examples of rallentando in a sentence

After the rallentando that ends the first movement, the start of the second does the opposite and gradually speeds up.

The conductor obsessively controlled every rallentando, using computer technology to signal the beats of the slowing pace.

The rallentando slowed the pace so much the audience thought it was the end of the piece and prematurely applauded.

Ritardando (or ritard. or rit.) – Gradually getting slower

(Pronounced Ree-tahr-dahn-doh)

The roadworkers re-tarred and do (ritardando) repairs on the road but got gradually slower as they become tired.

Examples of ritardando in a sentence

The orchestra gradually slowed the tempo - it was a great example of the effectiveness of ritardando.

The pianist was always using ritardando, slowing down his music when there was no real reason for it.

As an experienced guitarist, he knew exactly how to use ritardando to full effect, slowing the pace and increasing the intensity.

Ritenuto (riten. or rit.) – an immediate, or sudden, reduction in speed or tempo

(Pronounced ree-tuh-noo-toh)

Please believe that I have written you too (ritenuto) but the postal service strike may suddenly slow down my letter.

Examples of ritenuto in a sentence

The musical piece moves from fast to slow so suddenly it takes the audience by surprise: that is the effect of ritenuto.

In film scores, ritenuto is an accepted technique used to signal a change of atmosphere to cinemagoers.

The ritenuto - a sudden change from the upbeat to the slow and dreamy - was quite abrupt; on the dance floor, there was an inevitable awkwardness while everybody adjusted.

Staccato (or stacc.) – Each note detached or separated from each other

(Pronounced sta-kah-tow)

The stack of cards were oh (staccato) so high but then suddenly tumbled and the cards became detached.

Examples of staccato in a sentence

She sang partly in staccato - there was a little pause between each word and this added extra emphasis to them.

To get the best out of this song, some of it needs to be sung staccato to give clarity to the meaning.

The staccato rhythms in the final act of the opera help to portray the hostility and tension between the characters.

Tempo – Speed, time

(Pronounced tem-poh)

Note: Tempo is the rate of speed of a musical piece indicated by directions (such as largo or allegro) and often by an exact metronome marking.

He was so naughty he lost his temper (tempo) all the time.

Examples of tempo in a sentence

Her version of the song was really up-tempo, moving along at a pleasingly fast pace.

Too many changes of tempo in a song can be unsettling, even wearing, for the listener.

The busker played his song faster and faster, speeding up the tempo to the delight of the crowd.