Direction Flow

Repeat Signs

𝄇 Repeat Sign Repeat back to the beginning or the matching repeat sign.

𝄆   𝄇 Matching Repeat Signs Repeat what is between the two repeat signs..

Using repeat signs can save writing a section multiple times. For example, the second half of this phrase is the same as the first.

By using repeat signs the whole phrase can be written using half as much space.

And, since this is repeating back to the beginning the opening repeat sign is optional.

For a review of Bar Lines and Measures see Understanding Meter.

To review Time Signatures go to Understanding Time Signatures.

Endings

Sometimes when repeating music it is desirable to change the last measure, or last few measures of the repeat so that it leads into the next section rather than back to the beginning of the current section. To do this repeat endings are used. The brackets over the endings have a number in them indicating which time they are to be played.

For example, in the following piece the measure with the bracket with the 1. over it is played only the first time through. The music repeats and the second time through the 1st ending is skipped and the 2nd ending is played.

It is also possible to make more complicated repeat endings as seen in this example:

Direction Flow Terms and Symbols

𝄊 Da Capo Repeat back to the beginning.

𝄋 Sign (Segno) The target of a 'Dal Segno'.

𝄉 Dal Segno Repeat back to the Sign.

Fine Fine The end.

Al Fine Al Fine Play to the word 'Fine'.

𝄌 Coda The target of a 'to Coda'.

Al Coda Al Coda Play to the 'to Coda' (then jump to the Coda).

To Coda To Coda Jump to the Coda.

𝄁 Double Bar Line Separates sections of music, such as between the verse and chorus.

These terms can be combined to give the composer of the music more flexibility in repeating sections and jumping to new sections. They are generally combined to form four phrases that give special directions for reading music:

• D.C. al Fine
• D.C. al Coda
• D.S. al Fine
• D.S. al Coda

D.C. al Fine

Repeat from the beginning until you reach the word Fine and then stop. In the following example, letters have been place above the score to help understand the flow. Play from the beginning (A) and take the 1st ending (B). Then repeat back to the beginning (A), skip the 1st ending and take the 2nd ending (C). Then D.C (go to the beginning - A) al Fine (and play to the Fine - B). The end result is A B A C A B.

D.C. al Coda

Repeat from the beginning until you reach the words 'to Coda', or the coda symbol, and then skip to the Coda. The coda is always at the end of the piece and marked with the coda symbol. The first line of the coda should be indented. So, the result is A B A C A D

D.S. al Fine

Repeat from the sign until you reach the word Fine and then stop. In this example letter A functions as an introduction. The result is A B C B D B C

D.S. al Coda

Repeat from the sign until you reach the words to Coda, or the coda symbol, and then skip to the Coda. The result is A B C B D B E

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