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![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/optimized\/iPhone15-1A-3-800.webp\")
<\/div><\/div><\/small>Book a trial lesson<\/a>No credit card details required<\/small><\/div>\nWhat are music symbols?<\/h2>\n
Music symbols are the written language of music. They represent pitch, rhythm, dynamics, expression and everything in between. These symbols help musicians interpret what is written on a page. They show a musician everything they need to know about a piece of music before playing it. They convey rhythms, pitches, how fast to play a piece and much more. Let’s start by looking at some basics of note values and rests. The symbols tell us how long to hold notes and when not to play.<\/p>\n
Note values and rests<\/h2>\n
Musical note values and rest are the symbols musicians use to write down rhythms. Let\u2019s take a look at what these symbols look like and how they are used in written music.<\/p>\n
Note values in music<\/h3>\n
Note values dictate the amount of time value, measured in beats, that each note is worth. Note values are shown by three parts of a note: the stem, head and flag.<\/p>\n
![\"Note](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-1-scaled-e1763730555487.jpg\")
<\/p>\nTake a look at this handy guide showing the relative value of the most common note values:<\/p>\n
![\"note](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-1-1-scaled-e1763730733461.jpg\")
<\/p>\nTies in music<\/h3>\n
A tie in music<\/a> is a way of increasing the length of a rhythmic value by combining two notes of the same pitch. A quarter note<\/a> is worth one beat. However, when a tie links two quarter notes across the bar line, it is worth two beats (beat four + beat one).<\/p>\n
![\"Ties](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-1-2-scaled-e1763730815940.jpg\")
<\/p>\nDotted notes<\/h3>\n
A dotted note<\/a> is a rhythmic notation that adds half of the original note\u2019s value to its duration. For example, a dotted half note (minim) lasts for the duration of a half note (two beats) plus a quarter note (one beat) equaling three beats total.<\/p>\n
![\"Dotted](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-1-3-scaled-e1763730918141.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Dotted](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-1-4-scaled-e1763730993128.jpg\")
<\/p>\nRests in music<\/h3>\n
In music theory, we use rests to indicate silence. Rest, much like notated pitch durations, vary in length. Exploring each different rest symbol and duration helps when comprehending their functions and importance in written music.<\/p>\n
![\"Rests](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-1-5-scaled-e1763731093232.jpg\")
<\/p>\nDotted rests<\/h3>\n
Dotted rests work in the same way as the dotted notes do. They increase the value of the rest by half of the initial value. For example, a dotted half note rest (minim) lasts for the duration of a half note (two beats) plus a quarter note (one beat) equaling three beats of rest total.<\/p>\n
![\"Dotted](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-1-6-scaled-e1763731283788.jpg\")
<\/p>\nDouble dotted notes<\/h3>\n
Double dots follow the same rules as single dotted notes but the added value from the second dot is from the duration of the amount the initial dot adds.<\/p>\n
![\"Double](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-1-7-scaled-e1763731391370.jpg\")
<\/p>\nMultibar rests<\/h3>\n
When rests are continued for multiple bars to save space and make it easier for musicians to keep track of bars, multi-measure rests are used. The above number refers to how many bars you rest for.<\/p>\n
![\"Multibar](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-1-8-scaled-e1763731504699.jpg\")
<\/p>\nNotes and rest chart<\/h3>\n
This notes and rests chart shows how the equivalent values of notes and rests look together understanding this will help you recognize the time values you see in sheet music.<\/p>\n
The staff and notation basics<\/h2>\n
Staff and musical notation basics let musicians convey written pitches and combine note values and rest together to form bars, rhythms, melodies and songs. Let’s take a look at these symbols and how they are used.<\/p>\n
The stave\/staff in music<\/h3>\n
A musical stave or staff is made up of five lines and four spaces. The staff is used to show the pitches of notes in conjunction with a clef.<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-2-scaled-e1763734777270.jpg\")
<\/p>\nClefs and their different types<\/h3>\n
A clef is a symbol that shows you how to read a staff. They come in different forms, most commonly treble (G clef), bass (F clef), alto (C clef) and tenor (C clef), and show which pitches belong to each line and space. Using different clefs allows for different pitch registered to be displayed comfortably on the staff.<\/p>\n
![\"Clefs](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-2-1-scaled-e1763734840642.jpg\")
<\/p>\nLedger lines<\/h3>\n
Ledger lines<\/a> are used to show pitches that fall outside the five lines of the staff. They act as extension of the lines and spaces.<\/p>\n
![\"Ledger](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-2-2-scaled-e1763734919480.jpg\")
<\/p>\nMusical braces<\/h3>\n
A brace is a symbol that connects two staves. It is used to link two staves into one musical part. This can be seen in piano parts, the clefs distinguish between what is played in each hand.<\/p>\n
![\"Musical](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-2-3-scaled-e1763735059341.jpg\")
<\/p>\nMusical brackets<\/h3>\n
A bracket in music groups multiple instrumental parts together into sections. This symbol can often be seen in choral or orchestral music.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-2-4-scaled-e1763735121610.jpg\")
<\/p>\nKey signatures<\/h3>\n
A key signature<\/a> tells you the key a piece by indicating which notes are flat or sharp. These symbols are placed at the beginning of a piece of music but can change throughout a score as the key changes.<\/p>\n
![\"Key](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-2-5-scaled-e1763735200433.jpg\")
<\/p>\nTime signatures<\/h3>\n
A time signature<\/a> tells you how to count the music you are playing. It denotes how many and what type of beats make up a bar.<\/p>\n
![\"time](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-2-6-scaled-e1763735264170.jpg\")
<\/p>\nCommon time<\/h3>\n
Common time is a shorthand for a 4\/4 time signature using a C that means four crochet (quarter notes) per bar.<\/p>\n
![\"common](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-2-7-scaled-e1763735443436.jpg\")
<\/p>\nCut time<\/h3>\n
Cut time is a shorthand for 2\/2 time meaning two minim (half note) beats per bar.<\/p>\n
![\"Cut](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-3-scaled-e1763801095532.jpg\")
<\/p>\nTempo markings<\/h3>\n
Tempo markings<\/a> dictate the tempo of written music at the start of a piece. Tempos can also be changed throughout a piece. Tempo markings can be shown with a note value and number, this shows the amount of this beat that should occur within a minute (BPM\/beats per minute). In this example we see a tempo of 120 crotchet bets per minute. Italian terms can also be used such as the common ones in this table.<\/p>\n
![\"Tempo](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-3-1-scaled-e1763801200646.jpg\")
<\/p>\nRitardando (rit.)<\/h3>\n
A ritardando or rit. is a tempo direction meaning to gradually slow down.<\/p>\n
![\"Ritardando](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-4-scaled-e1763802436805.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAccelarando (accel.)<\/h3>\n
A accelarando or accel. is a tempo direction meaning to gradually speed up.<\/p>\n
![\"Accelarando](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-4-1-scaled-e1763802764771.jpg\")
<\/p>\nPitches and accidentals<\/h2>\n
Pitches and accidentals, in conjunction with clefs, are how musicians convey the pitch of a note.<\/p>\n
Pitch in music<\/h3>\n
Pitch describes how high or low a note sounds. Pitches are indicated by a notes position on a stave and are dictated by a clef.<\/p>\n
![\"Pitch](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-4-2-scaled-e1763810902658.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSharps<\/h3>\n
A sharp raises a note a half step from its natural pitch making it slightly higher.<\/p>\n
![\"Sharp\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-4-3-scaled-e1763811421605.jpg\")
<\/p>\nFlats<\/h3>\n
A flat lowers a note a half step for its natural pitch making it slightly lower.<\/p>\n
![\"flat\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-4-4-scaled-e1763812704578.jpg\")
<\/p>\nNaturals<\/h3>\n
A natural sign is used to cancel a sharp or a flat returning the note to its natural pitch (a white key).<\/p>\n
![\"natural\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-4-5-scaled-e1763812935504.jpg\")
<\/p>\nDouble sharp<\/h3>\n
A double sharp raises a note by two half steps from its natural pitch.<\/p>\n
![\"Double](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-4-6-scaled-e1763813938705.jpg\")
<\/p>\nDouble flat<\/h3>\n
A double sharp lowers a note by two half steps from its natural pitch.<\/p>\n
![\"Double](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-4-7-scaled-e1763814306743.jpg\")
<\/p>\n8va\/8vb symbol<\/h3>\n
These symbols tell you to play the dotted bracket passage an octave higher (8va) or lower (8vb) than written.<\/p>\n
![\"8va\/8vb](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-5-scaled-e1763818326934.jpg\")
<\/p>\nBars, measures and endings<\/h2>\n
Bars, measure and endings are symbols musicians use to divide up music so it is easy to break down into manageable readable sections and chunks.<\/p>\n
Bar lines<\/h3>\n
A bar line divides musical rhythms into bars or measures; this symbol helps musicians navigate music and organine timings and rhythms into manageable chunks.<\/p>\n
![\"bar](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-4-8-scaled-e1763814408785.jpg\")
<\/p>\nDouble bar lines<\/h3>\n
A double bar line is a barline that is used to bring attention to major changes or new musical sections.<\/p>\n
![\"Double](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-4-9-scaled-e1763814861945.jpg\")
<\/p>\nFinal bar lines<\/h3>\n
A final barline shows the ending of a movement or piece of music.<\/p>\n
![\"Final](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-5-1-scaled-e1763818447316.jpg\")
<\/p>\nDotted bar lines<\/h3>\n
A dotted barline is used to show subdivisions of complex bars and rhythms.<\/p>\n
![\"Dotted](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-5-2-scaled-e1763818628946.jpg\")
<\/p>\nStructure and navigation symbols<\/h2>\n
Written music makes use of symbols and directions to provide a navigation structure for a piece. This can often make the structure of a piece easier to understand and can conserve time and space as it saves rewriting sections and passages.<\/p>\n
Repeat sign?<\/h3>\n
Repeat signs indicate a section that should be repeated. This section is enclosed by a start and end repeat barline.<\/p>\n
![\"Repeat](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-5-3-scaled-e1763818758635.jpg\")
<\/p>\nFirst and second endings<\/h3>\n
First and second endings provide different endings for repeated sections. They are often used to reduce length of written music and simplify structure\/section layouts.<\/p>\n
![\"First](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-5-4-scaled-e1763818880871.jpg\")
<\/p>\nDa Capo? (D.C.)<\/h3>\n
Da Capo or D.C is a structure instruction that tells the reader to go back to the start of a piece of music.<\/p>\n
![\"Da](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-5-5-scaled-e1763819014674.jpg\")
<\/p>\nD.C. al Fine (Da Capo al Fine)<\/h3>\n
D.C al Fine means go back to the start of a piece of music and play up to the \u2018Fine\u2019 symbol which shows where the music ends.<\/p>\n
![\"D.C.](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-5-6-scaled-e1763819139612.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWhat is Dal Segno? (D.S.)<\/h3>\n
Dal Segno or D.S. means \u2018from the sign\u2019 it is an instruction to play from a special marker called the \u2018segno\u2019.<\/p>\n
![\"Dal](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-5-7-scaled-e1763819242724.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSegno<\/h3>\n
A segno is the symbol that shows you where to play from by the instruction of a \u2018D.S\u2019 or \u2018Dal Segno\u2019 symbol.<\/p>\n
![\"Segno\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-5-8-scaled-e1763819483575.jpg\")
<\/h3>\nCoda<\/h3>\n
A coda is a passage that brings a piece of music to an end. This will be at the end of a piece often clearly shown by an indented stave and a coda symbol.<\/p>\n
![\"Coda\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-5-9-scaled-e1763819592694.jpg\")
<\/p>\nA to coda is a symbol that tells you to jump to the coda symbol and play from there to end a piece.<\/p>\n
![\"to](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-5-10-scaled-e1763819759758.jpg\")
<\/p>\nD.S al Coda (Dal Segno al Coda)<\/h3>\n
This instruction means return to sign and play to the \u2018To Coda\u2019 symbol where you then play from the coda.<\/p>\n
![\"D.S](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-5-11-scaled-e1763819909414.jpg\")
<\/p>\nFine<\/h3>\n
A Fine is a musical symbol that shows the end of a piece after previous structure instructions such as a \u2018D.C al Fine\u2019.<\/p>\n
![\"fine\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-5-12-scaled-e1763820024638.jpg\")
<\/p>\nArticulation and expression marks<\/h2>\n
Articulation and expression markings<\/a> are the way in which the nuances of notes and phrases are conveyed in written form. Let’s take a look at some of the most common ones.<\/p>\n
Legato<\/h3>\n
Legato means play notes smoothly and connected. Legato can be notated with either a written direction or a slur marking.<\/p>\n
![\"Legato\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-6-scaled-e1763821929718.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSlurs<\/h3>\n
A slur is a curved line used to show smoothly connected notes or to show phrases as a phrase marking.<\/p>\n
![\"Slurs\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-6-1-scaled-e1763822018566.jpg\")
<\/p>\nTies<\/h3>\n
A tie connects two notes of the same pitch to create one note of the combined duration.<\/p>\n
![\"Tie\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-6-2-scaled-e1763822119638.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAccents<\/h3>\n
An accent is shown by a right facing arrow above or below a note. Accented notes should be played louder or more forcefully.<\/p>\n
![\"Accent\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-6-3-scaled-e1763822224965.jpg\")
<\/p>\nStaccato<\/h3>\n
A staccato dot above or below the note means play the note short and detached, half the value of the its standard duration.<\/p>\n
![\"Staccato\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-6-4-scaled-e1763822389244.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSemi-staccato and portato<\/h3>\n
Semmi-stacatto, also known as portato, requires the notes to be played slightly detached but still quite smooth. This is shown with either a tenuto and staccato dot or slurred staccatos.<\/p>\n
![\"Semi-staccato](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-6-5-scaled-e1763822541196.jpg\")
<\/p>\nStaccatisimo<\/h3>\n
A staccato is an extreme staccato. Staccatisimo notes show be played extremely short and detached, sometimes with slight accent.<\/p>\n
![\"Staccatisimo\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-7-1-scaled-e1763822925553.jpg\")
<\/p>\nTenuto<\/h3>\n
A tenuto shows that a note should be held for its full value. Tenutos can also be used to show where to add emphasis to notes within a phrase.<\/p>\n
![\"Tenuto\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-7-scaled-e1763822780291.jpg\")
<\/p>\nMarcato<\/h3>\n
A marcato is a strong and marked accent showing that the note should be played very forcefully with a strong attack.<\/p>\n
![\"Marcato\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-7-2-scaled-e1763823045376.jpg\")
<\/p>\nArpeggiation\/roll lines<\/h3>\n
An arpeggiation symbol or roll shows that the notes of a chord should be played in quick succession (usually ascending). The direction of this sequence can be shown by an up or down facing wavy arrow.<\/p>\n
![\"Arpeggiation\/roll](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-7-3-scaled-e1763823138513.jpg\")
<\/p>\nGlissando<\/h3>\n
A glissando is a rapid ascending or descending succession of notes, usually between two indicated pitches, sliding between as many notes as possible along the way.<\/p>\n
![\"Glissando\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-8-scaled-e1763824507465.jpg\")
<\/p>\nGrace notes<\/h3>\n
Grace notes are quick decorative notes known as ornaments used to embellish a phrase or accompaniment. They are noted with smaller notes near the note they are embellishing.<\/p>\n
![\"Grace](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-8-1-scaled-e1763824623266.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAppogiatura<\/h3>\n
An appogiatura is a type of grace note that leans on the main note, taking the denoted duration of the grace note, to create a sense of tension and then resolution to the main note.<\/p>\n
![\"Appogiatura\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-8-2-scaled-e1763824751867.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAcciaccatura<\/h3>\n
An acciaccatura, also known as a \u2018crushed note\u2019, is a grace note that is to be played very before a principal note. It is distinguishable from an appoggiatura by the line that goes through the stem.<\/p>\n
![\"Acciaccatura\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-8-3-scaled-e1763824839578.jpg\")
<\/p>\nTrills<\/h3>\n
A trill is a fast alternation between two notes shown by a \u2018tr\u2019 or a wavy line.<\/p>\n
![\"Trills\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-8-4-scaled-e1763824933896.jpg\")
<\/p>\nMordents<\/h3>\n
A mordent is an ornament requiring rapid movement from written note above or below and back to the written note.<\/p>\n
![\"Mordent\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-8-5-scaled-e1763825030334.jpg\")
<\/p>\nUpper mordent<\/h3>\n
An upper mordent is an ornament requiring a rapid movement between a written note, the note above it then back to the original note.<\/p>\n
![\"Upper](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-8-6-scaled-e1763825127648.jpg\")
<\/p>\nLower mordent<\/h3>\n
A lower mordent is an ornament requiring the rapid movement between the main note, the note below and then back to the main note.<\/p>\n
![\"Lower](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-8-7-scaled-e1763825226444.jpg\")
<\/p>\nTurns<\/h3>\n
A turn is an ornament which denotes a flourish played around principal note<\/p>\n
Upper turn<\/h3>\n
An upper turn is an ornament that moves from the note above the main note, to the main note, then to the note below and back to the main note.<\/p>\n
![\"Upper](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-8-8-scaled-e1763825360470.jpg\")
<\/p>\nLower turn<\/h3>\n
A lower turn is a reversal of a normal turn. The pattern starts from the note below, moving up to the main note, then to the note above and back again.<\/p>\n
![\"Lower](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-8-9-scaled-e1763825485970.jpg\")
<\/p>\nFermata<\/h3>\n
A fermata is placed above a note and shows that it should be played for longer than its written duration.<\/p>\n
![\"Fermata\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-8-10-scaled-e1763825590761.jpg\")
<\/p>\nCaesura<\/h3>\n
A caesura is a symbol that calls for a brief but complete pause in or between passages of music.<\/p>\n
![\"Caesura\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-8-11-scaled-e1763825724108.jpg\")
<\/p>\nDynamics and phrasing<\/h2>\n
Dynamic and phrase marks are used to add nuance to music; they control how you play phrases and what volume you play them at.<\/p>\n
Dynamics<\/h3>\n
Dynamics are abbreviations of Italian terms as symbols which dictate how loudly or quiet music should be played. Dynamics can vary throughout a passage or piece of music.<\/p>\n
![\"Dynamics\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-8-12-scaled-e1763825863415.jpg\")
<\/p>\nCrescendo<\/h3>\n
A crescendo is a gradual increase in volume between two dynamic levels.<\/p>\n
![\"Crescendo\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-8-13-scaled-e1763826008449.jpg\")
<\/p>\nDiminuendo and decrescendo<\/h3>\n
A diminuendo or decrescendo is a gradual decrease in volume between two dynamic levels.<\/p>\n
![\"Diminuendo](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-8-14-scaled-e1763826139524.jpg\")
<\/p>\nBreath mark<\/h3>\n
A breath mark shows a brief pause, or breath for wind player, in a musical passage or phrase.<\/p>\n
![\"Breath](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulations-8-15-scaled-e1763826273364.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe world of music symbols and where to go from here?<\/h2>\n
Mastering all the musical symbols in this article is incredibly useful as they can bring so much to your playing and understanding of music. This amount of information may seem overwhelming at first however tools like Skoove\u2019s interactive lessons<\/a> can help you develop this essential skill effectively. Take on new challenges and try new pieces with one or a few new symbols at the time and you will soon have all these symbols as a valuable part of your musical knowledge. Keep up the good work and happy playing!<\/p>\n
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