Forte: the loud dynamic
Forte, written f, is an Italian word meaning strong. It tells you to play or sing loudly. It is one of the basic dynamic markings and sits above mezzo forte and below fortissimo.
Forte (say FOR-tay) is the Italian word for strong. In music it means loud. Its symbol is a lowercase italic letter f, written below the staff in piano music or below the staff of the instrument that should play loudly. It stays in force until another dynamic marking replaces it.
What does forte mean exactly?
Forte does not give a number of decibels. It is a relative word. A forte on a solo flute is far quieter than a forte from a full orchestra. What matters is the contrast within the piece. Forte should be clearly louder than the passage marked mezzo forte (mf), but not as loud as fortissimo (ff). Think of it as a strong, full, confident sound that is still beautiful.
Good to know: Loud does not mean harsh. A good forte has a rich, round tone. If the sound turns ugly, you have gone past forte.
How is forte written in a score?
The mark is simply f. Composers can write it alone or combine it with other letters. Here is the full ladder from quiet to loud, with the Italian names: pianissimo (pp), piano (p), mezzo piano (mp), mezzo forte (mf), forte (f) and fortissimo (ff). Composers sometimes go further, with ppp and fff. The page on dynamics shows the whole scale in one table.
How do you play forte on different instruments?
- Piano: Use more arm weight, not just finger force. Let the weight sink into the key. Hitting from far above makes a hard, thin sound.
- Strings: Use more bow, a faster bow speed and a firmer contact point. The bow stays close to the bridge for a rich, strong sound.
- Winds and brass: Use more air, with firm breath support. Do not tighten the lips or throat, since that makes the pitch go sharp and the tone harsh.
- Voice: Sing with more breath energy and space in the mouth. Do not push from the throat. A choir forte should still blend.
What is the difference between forte and nearby dynamics?
| Marking | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| mf | Mezzo forte | Medium loud |
| f | Forte | Loud |
| ff | Fortissimo | Very loud |
| sfz | Sforzando | A sudden, strong accent on one note |
Forte is not an accent. An accent affects only one note, while forte sets the level of a whole passage. For a sudden accent on a single note, composers use sforzando. For a very loud passage they use fortissimo.
How do you change from forte to something else?
A composer can change dynamics suddenly, by writing a new marking such as p (a sudden drop is called subito piano), or gradually, with a crescendo or diminuendo. The combination fp means forte followed at once by piano. Beethoven and many later composers love this kind of sudden contrast.
Where did forte come from?
The piano gets its name from this pair of words. The early instrument was called pianoforte because, unlike the harpsichord, it could play both soft and loud depending on how hard the player pressed the keys. Today most people just say piano.
Check yourself
1. What does forte mean?
Answer: Loud. Forte is Italian for strong, and in music it means loud.
2. Which letter is the symbol for forte?
Answer: f. p is piano, m is the first letter of mezzo, and f stands for forte.
3. Which marking is louder than forte?
Answer: Fortissimo. Fortissimo (ff) means very loud.
4. What does the combination fp tell you?
Answer: Loud, then soft right away. In fp the forte lasts only for the attack, then the sound drops to piano.