Questions tagged [dynamics]
For questions related to the intensity, or loudness, of sound.
87
questions
9
votes
2answers
921 views
Dynamics using m, r, s, and z. What do they mean?
I've seen these dynamics that are notated with: 'm', 'r', 's', and 'z', but I don't know what the mean. I might have an idea to what 'm' means, which might mean 'medium' like in mp or mf, but I don't ...
2
votes
4answers
101 views
Does Sforzando really mean a stronger accent?
I come across sforzando a lot as an arranger and even just as a classical music listener. I was told by my piano teacher that sforzando means a stronger accent than your typical accent mark. But I ...
3
votes
2answers
509 views
How should I notate an intermediate dynamic between mp and mf?
I know this is a question that’s been asked before, but I haven’t found an answer that suits my needs.
Consider the following example [edit: new excerpt, to include all swells and to remove other ...
2
votes
3answers
178 views
Più, meno, poco & molto: How to write incremental dynamics?
I’m a self-taught amateur composer, and whilst the standard dynamics of ppp to fff go a long way, over time I’ve wanted to use some additional instructions to indicate incremental dynamics between ...
6
votes
1answer
56 views
Is there a difference between Espirando and Mancando?
I've seen both these terms listed in online music glossaries as meaning "dying away", but neither entry ever refers to the other. Are there any real-world differences in how these are interpreted?
5
votes
2answers
100 views
What is the point of repeating the same dynamic mark?
See this video
The audio is the orchestral version of Shosty 7, but the video shows a two piano arrangement, which is what the question is about. If you look at 1:06:...
4
votes
1answer
57 views
Will a forte tympani overpower a quiet orchestra?
So far, I have been mainly using the tympani in my orchestration of the Pathetique Sonata for the purpose of adding an accent. It might change later on to having a more important role but right now, ...
15
votes
4answers
4k views
How do pianists reach extremely loud dynamics?
This question of mine started when I heard the piano score of Mars by Gustav Holst. Here is the piano score:
How do the pianists even reach triple f? I myself have ...
1
vote
2answers
105 views
What is the best way to play with dynamics on the violin?
I've just started playing the violin, and have come to dynamics (forte, piano, etc.). To play forte, I push the bow hard, and for piano, I push the bow lightly. Is this the right method? Are there any ...
0
votes
1answer
90 views
Polyphony vs Monophony
I am taking a basic music class as an elective and was given a chart to compare monophony and polyphony. The elements within the chart are: Melody, Accompaniment, Harmony, Rhythm of Words, Dynamics ...
6
votes
2answers
461 views
What is the difference between accent and sforzando?
In particular, on cello. I got the impression that both are strong (either by pressure or speed) at the beginning of the note, followed by quick release of pressure/speed. What is the difference ...
2
votes
2answers
444 views
Why do arpeggios tend to blend at quiet dynamics?
I notice this especially in the arpeggio passage of the Solfeggio in C minor. But when I am playing very fast arpeggios, the notes either stay separate or blend depending on the dynamic. At forte, ...
5
votes
4answers
1k views
Why were dynamic markings not really used in the Baroque and Classical period?
Why is it that dynamics only really began to be frequently used from the Romantic period onward? Also what was the first recorded use of dynamics because I read on Wikipedia that it was first century ...
0
votes
0answers
30 views
Normalize a collection of WAVS in an homogenous way without loosing a bit of dynamic range
I ripped all my CDs of a band, and would like to do a loseless flac compilation. The degree of volume and compression is different in every album.
What's the easiest way to normalize by RMS a ...
4
votes
2answers
329 views
Dynamic markings and relative sound levels of instuments
In an orchestra, various instruments have different "perceived output volume" capabilities and these change across registers. For example, flutes get louder in their higher register, bassoons are ...
2
votes
1answer
79 views
What do I do if a fp marking is in between two notes?
How can i play the section with forte piano fp where fp is between two notes
7
votes
1answer
86 views
Is there a specific term for the orchestral bursts in The Firebird?
In Stravinsky's Firebird, during the Danse Infernale section, there are several very short, jarring bursts from the orchestra. These bursts have an unusual dynamic quality in that the attack is not at ...
3
votes
2answers
726 views
Crescendo and accelerando throughout, how?
I hear this in most piano transcriptions and in all orchestras when I hear In the Hall of the Mountain King. It is as though Edvard Grieg wrote cresc. and accel. and pp and left it at that. I did hear ...
4
votes
3answers
457 views
How to play forte-piano chord on piano?
In Beethoven's Pathetique, how do you play the fortepiano chords in the third movement (rondo)? I can easily do this on a wind instrument by changing wind speed, but on piano, I have no idea how to ...
8
votes
4answers
1k views
Do contemporary singers sound “wrong” without a microphone?
When I play guitar and sing, it isn’t very loud because I mix my head voice with falsetto. It’s impossible for me to know what this sounds like without recording my voice- but the only way to record ...
6
votes
4answers
277 views
How can I make sure my mix is not “bricked” before sending it to be professionally mastered?
In the instructions provided to me by the service I'm using to have my album mastered, the engineers include this advice:
Include any desired processing, such as compression and equalization, but ...
3
votes
1answer
239 views
Sforzando but fortissimo, how to fix that?
I wished that Musescore could recognize the note velocity of other instruments when I just put in a series of sforzandos in 1 instrument followed by forte to recognize that it needs to do a crescendo. ...
5
votes
3answers
548 views
Is it necessary to put nuances indication at the start and end of a crescendo/decrescendo?
On one song I'm writing, I'd like to finish the song with a decrescendo on two measures.
My question is, is it better (or at least useful) to add a nuance at the end of the decrescendo like in the ...
3
votes
3answers
1k views
digital piano volume
I have a Yamaha P-115. Earlier I had a tutor coming home and he used to keep the volume 2-3 notches below the max. Now, I am in a different city, and go to a tutor in a music school, where I play a ...
2
votes
1answer
101 views
Can I use the G2 Pedal to simply act as a volume pedal?
I have access to a Guitar Effects Pedal G2 by Zoom (https://www.zoom-na.com/sites/default/files/products/downloads/pdfs/G2.pdf) and I've been perusing the manual for a distortion-free volume ...
2
votes
2answers
195 views
Determining dynamics of individual parts in music group
I have been lately wondering how to determine dynamics of individual parts in music group. As we all know sheet music many times doesn't provide all dynamics and phrasing.
It seems obvious to me, ...
2
votes
2answers
2k views
Where should dynamics marking be written?
I am recently writing a piece for violin and piano. Should I write the f and p dynamic markings of the violin above the stave of violin or below?
Also, should tempo markings such as rit. written on ...
6
votes
3answers
944 views
Do you always play the melody louder than the accompaniment, unless specified?
The moonlight sonata 1st movement by Beethoven, for example, has a melody on top with an accompaniment with the left AND right hand (starts at measure 5). People usually say that you play the melody ...
2
votes
3answers
141 views
Are anti-accents used for the piano?
According to wikipedia, anti-accents: accents that tell you to play a note softer than the surrounding notes, which are indicated by a breve (slightly softer), parentheses (significantly softer) and ...
0
votes
1answer
258 views
Does it matter where you put the tempo marking (piano)?
Does it matter where you put the tempo marking?
For example, above the treble staff, in between the treble staff and the bass staff or underneath the bass staff? I know that when you put a dynamic ...
1
vote
1answer
148 views
Is pizzicato on a violin family instrument louder than finger picking an acostic guitar?
It seems that way, since those instruments are played in large concert halls that a guitar would probably need an amplifier for.
And if it's true, what is the reason?
6
votes
3answers
1k views
Are single coil pickups better at catching picking dynamics?
I've seen mention of dynamics on the Internet generally associated with single coil pickups, and it seems that people assume that those have more dynamics.
However, there is an interesting forum ...
2
votes
5answers
784 views
How to play the dynamic correctly?
Is there any rule of thumb for how loud/quiet the dynamics should be played?
Like, when I see "pp" I know to play it softer than "mf" or "f", for example, but I have no way of knowing if I'm playing ...
2
votes
3answers
271 views
The same dynamic indication repeated?
Why is the f dynamic indication repeated in the last two bars displayed below if a dynamic instruction should last until a different indication occurs?
Also, in the same picture, should the notes ...
3
votes
1answer
133 views
Is there an English-language edition of “Dynamik und Agogik” by Hugo Riemann? [closed]
This book is cited by many theorists and it has inspired a lot of further works including the well-known book "Note Grouping" by Thurmond. There is a German language public domain version available at ...
2
votes
4answers
1k views
Problem with dynamics while playing
I am a musician and I play keyboard but I have a problem that worries me. Whenever I play I tend to strike the bass key(s) very hard and that note(s) is very clearly heard and obscures the right hand. ...
5
votes
2answers
3k views
What does *fp* mean in terms of volume to play?
I'm working on a piece where the volume is specified as fp. From what I can tell, this means "forte piano", which to me is meaningless. This is a piano piece, so:
1) Is it meaningless?
2) Do they ...
17
votes
4answers
7k views
Tell pianist to play entire piece softly, except one part
I've composed a short melody, however I'm very new to all this piano theory, how would I tell the pianist to play the entire piece softly? (mp, not pp), and how would I write exceptions for specific ...
0
votes
1answer
81 views
What would be good ways, preferably books, to practice dynamics on drums
After working out both hands practicing technique, it would be interesting to work on dynamics. However, apart from the advice to "play with others" I have not really seen a more concrete pointer. The ...
2
votes
3answers
2k views
MIDI volume level and expression interation
I can't understand the relationship between MIDI controller message 0x07 (overall volume channel) and MIDI controller message 0x0B (expression volume). I see the latter can be used for crescendo and ...
3
votes
3answers
997 views
Should loudness be maintained after crescendo or decrescendo?
If in a music piece crescendo is present but there are no decrescendos in the following measures, do I maintain the last loudness of the crescendo throughout until there is a decrescendo or another ...
1
vote
1answer
852 views
How to master dynamics while self-learning the piano?
I recently started learning the piano by myself, and is currently following the book "Alfred's Basic Adult All-in-One Course, Book 1" for getting things started.
I played a little keyboard back when ...
7
votes
3answers
3k views
Duration of staccato
Is there such a thing as a duration of a staccato note? I mean if you play a whole note staccato and an eighth note staccato, should the duration be the same? What if somebody needs an extra short ...
7
votes
2answers
1k views
How do you make high notes softer and low notes louder on the C flute?
I have trouble controlling my dynamics on the flute, especially on high and low notes. People told me that if you blow harder, the note will get louder, but when I try to do that on low notes, they ...
2
votes
2answers
165 views
Schumann's grand sonata op 11: interpretation of pianissimo
The final bar of the introduction of Schumann's grand sonata op. 11 in F# minor has a pp stacked below the two final whole notes in the bass stave:
How should this dynamic indication be interpreted ...
12
votes
4answers
4k views
What's the name, and symbol, for the “normal” dynamic volume? (between mp and mf)
Let's say I'm singing and there's no dynamic mark at the start. I'll sing at my default "normal" volume. Then there's an mp so i get a bit quieter. If there had been an mf I would have got a bit ...
1
vote
0answers
65 views
Weird crescendo that looks different [closed]
I have not been able to find an answer to this question, so I am asking it here.
In this piece of music I am trying to play, there is a weird crescendo which looks like this:
_\/
/\
So since that ...
-1
votes
1answer
1k views
How to (true by pass) or switch on off your effects pedal board BOss GT100 to get original guitar amp sound
I want to be able to go directly to my guitar amp sound which is a Roland JC120 and or a Fender Bassbreaker guitar amp. I use a BOSS GT100 Pedal effect board.
This GT100 when switched correctly does ...
20
votes
5answers
5k views
Why crescendo or decrescendo over one long note in piano music?
That C-chord on measure 6 of the system, from Grieg Piano Sonata, Op. 7, IV. Finale - Molto Allegro:
Why couldn't they just mark that D7 chord with a p? That G chord is marked pp.
Once you press a ...
4
votes
2answers
238 views
Is there a dynamics equivalent of the marking “a tempo”?
Is there a marking (or a term) that means "go back to the dynamic played at before the last (de)crescendo"? I'd prefer to not specify a particular dynamic immediately before the crescendo (in order to ...
