Dynamic levels are usually indicated by abbreviations of Italian terms
| ffff | (louder than louder than fortissimo) | ?? |
| fff | (louder than fortissimo) | ? |
| ff | fortissimo | as loud as possible |
| f | forte | loud |
| mf | mezzo forte | medium loud |
| mp | mezzo piano | medium soft |
| p | piano | soft |
| pp | pianissimo | as soft as possible |
| ppp | (softer than pianissimo) | ? |
| pppp | (softer than softer than pianissimo) | ?? |
Crescendo (get louder) and decrescendo (get softer) can be written out as words or
abbreviations, or hairpins. You use words or graphic symbols, not both at the same
time (as shown below):