Guide to Decrescendos in Music: How to Play a Decrescendo

The definition of decrescendo is a gradual decrease in the volume of music. It derives from the Italian word decrescere, which means "to decrease or diminish." (Italian musical terms are standard in the world of classical music.) Decrescendo is the opposite of crescendo, which refers to the gradual increase in the loudness of a musical passage. While the musical term decrescendo originated in classical music, the concept of decrescendoing, as well as its specific dynamic markings, extends into many other styles. Decrescendo passages are common in the musical notation of many genres.

Decrescendos can appear in sheet music notation in two forms—one precise, the other leaving room for a player's or conductor's interpretation.

Composers indicate the looser form of decrescendo with the actual word decrescendo (abbreviated decresc. on musical scores). Alternatively, some composers may favor the word diminuendo (abbreviated dim. on most scores). The word appears at the point where the music begins to decrease in volume. Ideally, the musical score will also indicate the endpoint of a decrescendo by showing the dynamic marking the decrescendo is working toward—for example, piano (p) or pianissimo (pp). However, not all musical scores contain such dynamic markings, which leaves the decrescendo marking open to interpretation.

The more precise form of decrescendo notation involves symbols that look like hairpins, inequality symbols, or alligator jaws. Hairpin decrescendo symbols show the exact length of the decrescendo and the prescribed volume at the beginning and end of the decrescendo. The symbol itself is two lines that move toward a point of intersection at the right end. The symbol’s mirror image symbol, the crescendo, indicates a gradual increase in volume. The image below shows a crescendo symbol on the left and a decrescendo symbol on the right.

In many cases, these hairpin symbols will be bracketed by dynamic markings. From softest to loudest, these dynamics are:

• ppp: abbreviation of pianississimo, meaning "very, very soft."
• pp: abbreviation of pianissimo, meaning "very soft."
• p: abbreviation of piano, meaning "soft."
• mp: abbreviation of mezzo-piano, meaning "somewhat soft."
• mf: abbreviation of mezzo-forte, meaning "somewhat loud."
• f: abbreviation of forte, meaning "loud."
• ff: abbreviation of fortissimo, meaning "very loud."
• fff: abbreviation of fortississimo, meaning "very, very loud."

For a decrescendo, the louder dynamic marking will always appear to the left of the hairpin symbol, and the quieter dynamic marking will appear to its right. In a crescendo, where the music gets louder, the opposite is true.

The key to properly playing a decrescendo is to gradually decrease volume, rather than letting a dynamic shift happen all at once. Composers sometimes include the Italian term poco a poco ("little by little") on scores to hammer home this point. If a composer or arranger wants a sudden decrease in volume, they have dynamic markings to indicate that—notably the fortepiano symbol fp, which means a forte (loud) accent immediately followed by piano (soft) volume. Gradual decrease in volume requires a mastery of your instrument’s dynamic capabilities. To play at the highest level, you must be able to control both sudden and gradual dynamic changes within all the registers that your instrument allows.

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