Ukulele For Dummies (80 page)

mf:
Mezzoforte
– moderately loud

f:
Forte
– loud

ff:
Fortissimo
– very loud

A change in dynamics that's to happen gradually is indicated as follows, also above the stave:

cresc.:
Crescendo
– gradually get louder

dim.:
Diminuendo
– gradually get quieter

These markings are usually accompanied by a wedge increasing for
crescendo
(‘<') and decreasing for
diminuendo
(‘>'). The length of these wedges indicates the notes for which you need to make this change.

Getting the speed right: Tempo

The tempo of a piece is usually indicated at the beginning of the notation. In modern notation, the most common method is to list the beats per minute.

You can put this number into your metronome to get the correct tempo.

Some pieces speed up or slow down gradually, and text above the relevant bar indicates these changes:

rit.
or
rall.:
Ritardando
or
rallentando
–
ritardando
means a sudden slowing of the tempo;
rallentando
means a gradual slowing of the tempo.

accel.:
Accelerando
– gradually get faster.

You often see
rit.
or
rall.
at the end of a piece.

Following directions

The following phrases direct you back or ahead to a particular point in the notation:

Da Capo:
Go back to the start.

Da Segno:
Go to the symbol shown in Figure B-17.

Da Capo al Coda
(
D.C. al Coda
)
:
Go back to the start and continue until you see
Da Coda
.

Da Coda:
After being instructed by the
Da Capo al Coda
, go to the coda; that is, the extra bit at the end of the notation indicated by a target in Figure B-18.