Wish you could have a list of all the musical symbols and terms you should know when sight-reading at the piano? This article is exactly that. You’ll find the most common musical symbols and terms.
Here are musical symbols and terms you should know when sight-reading at the piano. It’s not a comprehensive list but it includes the most common symbols and terms.
Music symbols related to articulation
| Symbol | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
 | Staccato | Play detached |
 | Accent | Play accented |
 | Staccatissimo | Play detached and in a more exaggerated way than normal staccato |
 | Strong accent | Play with a strong accent |
 | Sforzando | Play with a strong and sudden initial attack |
 | Tenuto | Hold or sustain note for its full length |
 | Two-note slur | Link the two notes together |
 | Phrase | Play notes in one breath, usually legato. A phrase represents a single musical idea. |
 | Trill | Play the written note and the pitch above it in quick succession |
 | Pedal marking | Press down the sustaining pedal until the line stops or until the next symbol |
 | Arpeggio sign | Arpeggiate the notes of the chord by playing them quickly one after the other from the bottom note (unless there is a down arrow, in which case you arpeggiate from the top note) |
Musical symbols related to pitch
| Symbol | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
 | Sharp | Raises the note by a semitone (half step) |
 | Flat | Lowers the note by a semitone (half step) |
 | Double sharp | Raises the note by 2 semitones (half steps) |
 | Double flat | Lowers the note by 2 semitones (half steps) |
 | Natural | Cancels previous accidentals. For example, E natural = E. |
 | Ottava | Play one octave higher |
 | Ottava bassa | Play one octave lower |
Musical terms related to speed
| Italian term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Adagio | Slow |
| Largo | Slow and broad |
| Andante | At a walking pace |
| Moderato | Moderate speed |
| Allegretto | Moderately quick |
| Allegro | Quick, lively |
| Presto | Very fast |
| Rallentando or rall. | Gradually slower |
| Ritardando or rit. | Held back, gradually slower |
| Ritenuto or rit./riten. | Held back, immediately slower |
| Accelerando or accel. | Gradually accelerate |
| A tempo | Back to the original tempo |
Musical terms and symbols related to expression
| Italian term | Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Espressivo | Expressive | |
| Cantabile | In a singing style | |
| Dolce | Sweet, gentle | |
| Giocoso | Cheerful, playful | |
| Mysterioso | Mysterious | |
| Agitato | Agitated | |
| Maestoso | Majestic | |
| Vivace | Lively | |
| Ad libitum or ad lib. | Optional, as you wish | |
| pp or pianissimo |  | Very soft |
| p or piano |  | Soft |
| mp or mezzo piano |  | Moderately soft |
| mf or mezzo forte |  | Moderately loud |
| f or forte |  | Loud |
| ff or fortissimo |  | Very loud |
| crescendo or cresc. |  | Gradually louder |
| diminuendo or dim., or descrescendo |  | Gradually softer |
Other Common Musical Symbols
| Symbol | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
 | Fermata or pause | A pause of unspecified length on a note or rest |
 | Start and end repeat signs | Indicate the start and end of a repeat respectively |
 | First ending | Indicates the passage you play the first time through |
 | Second ending | The second time through, you jump to this section (you skip the first ending) |
| D.C. al Fine | Da Capo al Fine | Repeat from the start until the end. Literally means "from the head to end" in Italian. |
 | Dal segno | Repeat from this sign. Literally means "from the sign" in Italian. |
 | Coda | A passage of music that brings the piece to an end. Literally means "tail" in Italian. |
Are there any musical symbols or terms that are new to you? Let me know in the comments below!
Love to learn piano and the symbols. Great to see your detailed information for easier to learn. Please email me for more detailed learning and also some web sites for video learning. Thank You
What does a small cross sign over a note mean? does it mean a trill?
It usually represents a note with no pitch, just a percussive sound. This note is known as a “dead” or “ghost” note. A trill is usually notated with “tr.” or a wavy line above the note.
what is doliss in music?
Do you mean dolciss., short for dolcissimo? It’s Italian for “very sweetly and gently”. It’s related to dolce which means “sweetly, gently”.
Wow this is a nice page
how do we treat or play a natural sign in orchestra song
The same way you would in any piece of music – the natural sign cancels any sharp or flat and makes the note it is in front of natural. The natural sign will apply to all notes of the same pitch within that same bar.