Diminuendo: gradually softer
Diminuendo is an Italian word meaning diminishing. It tells you to get gradually softer. It is written dim. or as a hairpin that closes to the right, and in most music it is the same as decrescendo.
Diminuendo (say dih-MIN-yoo-EN-doh) comes from the Italian diminuire, to diminish. In music it means to get softer little by little. The change is gradual, spread across the notes it covers. It is the opposite of crescendo.
How is diminuendo written?
The abbreviation is dim., usually in italics below the staff. A dotted line may follow it to show how far the change reaches. You may also see the hairpin: two lines that begin wide on the left and come together at a point on the right. The shape shows the sound narrowing. The words dim. and decresc. often appear in the same piece, and the hairpin is used for either.
Watch out: The abbreviation dim. is also used in chord names, as in Cdim for a diminished chord. In a chord chart, dim. means the chord type. Under the staff in sheet music, it means to get softer.
Is diminuendo different from decrescendo?
Most musicians use the two words as synonyms. Both ask for a gradual decrease in volume. Some theory books say that decrescendo is about volume only, while diminuendo may also suggest a thinning or lessening of the sound. In practice, if the score says dim. or decresc., or draws a hairpin that closes, you do the same thing: get softer gradually. You can read more on decrescendo. If a teacher or editor draws a distinction, follow their lead.
| Word | Abbreviation | Literal meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Diminuendo | dim. | Diminishing |
| Decrescendo | decresc. | Decreasing |
| Morendo | morend. | Dying away, often with a slowing down too |
How do you play a diminuendo?
- Piano: Use less weight in each key as the phrase goes on. In a held chord, let the sound die away naturally.
- Strings: Use less bow weight and a slower bow, or move toward the fingerboard. Pace the bow so you do not run out too early.
- Winds and brass: Reduce air gradually and keep the support steady. A common error is going flat on the quiet notes.
- Voice: Let the breath flow decrease smoothly. Keep the vowels shaped and the pitch centered. Quiet singing needs just as much support as loud singing.
How can you make a diminuendo sound good?
Plan the path. Choose the starting level, choose the end level and divide the change evenly over the notes. If you drop too fast, the music will feel like it has no air left for the last notes. If you drop too slowly, the end level will not be soft enough. Listen to your own sound and use your ear, not just your hands.
A diminuendo is often used at the end of a piece, for a gentle goodbye. It is also used on the last note of a phrase, so that the next phrase can start fresh. In an ensemble, one player should not fade faster than the others. Everyone needs to listen across the group.
What comes before and after a diminuendo?
A diminuendo usually begins from a clear dynamic, such as forte or mf, and ends in a quieter one, such as p or pianissimo. If the composer wants the music to go back to the original level, they will write a new marking. Otherwise stay at the new quiet level.
Check yourself
1. What does diminuendo mean?
Answer: Gradually softer. It comes from the Italian for diminishing.
2. Which abbreviation stands for diminuendo?
Answer: dim.. cresc. is the opposite, and rit. is about tempo.
3. What shape is the hairpin for diminuendo?
Answer: It closes to the right. The lines narrow as the sound fades.
4. In a chord chart, what does dim usually mean?
Answer: A diminished chord. In chord symbols it names the chord type, not a dynamic.