Decrescendo: gradually softer
Decrescendo is an Italian word meaning decreasing. It tells you to get gradually softer. It is written decresc. or as a hairpin that closes to the right. It means the same as diminuendo in most music.
Decrescendo (say deh-kreh-SHEN-doh) comes from the Italian decrescere, to decrease. In music it means to become softer little by little. The change is gradual, not sudden. Like its opposite, crescendo, it stretches over several notes or measures, and the new volume is reached at the end.
How is decrescendo written?
There are two common ways. The first is the abbreviation decresc., in italics under the staff, sometimes followed by dashes to show where it ends. The second is a hairpin that starts wide on the left and closes to a point on the right. The narrower the hairpin gets, the softer the sound should be. The hairpin is the same symbol as for diminuendo, which leads to the next question.
Is decrescendo the same as diminuendo?
In everyday music the answer is yes. Both words ask for a gradual decrease in volume, and players treat them as the same. The closing hairpin does the job of both. Some teachers point out that diminuendo literally means diminishing, and in some older music it can also suggest the sound or the notes becoming smaller, while decrescendo is purely about volume. Others say the opposite pair, crescendo and decrescendo, is the more logical one. Composers also have personal habits. Read the word as written and follow the hairpin. For more on the other word, see diminuendo.
| Term | Abbreviation | Literal meaning | Hairpin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decrescendo | decresc. | Decreasing | Closing |
| Diminuendo | dim. | Diminishing | Closing |
| Crescendo | cresc. | Growing | Opening |
How do you play a decrescendo?
- Piano: Press each note a little more gently than the one before. For a long chord, listen to the sound fade and do not lift the key early.
- Strings: Use less bow weight and a slower bow, or move the bow away from the bridge. Share the bow wisely so you do not run out.
- Winds and brass: Use less air while keeping the breath support steady. Keep the pitch from drooping as the sound gets smaller.
- Voice: Reduce the breath flow smoothly. Keep the vowel shape and the pitch the same. Do not just back off the tone, since that makes the singing flat.
Practice tip: A good decrescendo needs somewhere to go. Start at a clear level, plan the lowest level and make a steady slope between them.
When do composers use decrescendo?
Composers use it at the end of a phrase, to let a melody breathe out. They also use it to calm an exciting section before a quiet one, or to close a movement softly. A decrescendo that ends with a rest can feel like a sigh. It is also helpful in accompaniments, where it lets the melody come forward.
What does a decrescendo not tell you?
It does not say how soft the end should be. If the hairpin ends on a letter, such as p, that is your target. If there is no letter, choose a sensible level and keep it for the next section. It also does not tell you to slow down. For that you need ritardando. Many students slow down when they get softer, so listen for that.
Check yourself
1. What does decrescendo mean?
Answer: Gradually softer. It comes from the Italian for decreasing.
2. What does a hairpin that closes to the right mean?
Answer: Decrescendo or diminuendo. The lines close, just as the sound gets smaller.
3. Which abbreviation is used for decrescendo?
Answer: decresc.. cresc. is crescendo and accel. is accelerando.
4. Does decrescendo ask you to slow down?
Answer: No, only to get softer. Slowing down is ritardando, a separate instruction.