Diminuendo

Definition

The music gradually becomes quieter. There are two principal ways of notating a diminuendo; the first is with a 'hairpin' symbol that starts wide and gets narrower, the second is with the abbreviation dim.

A diminuendo notated as a 'hairpin' symbol

A diminuendo notated with the abbreviation dim.

Examples

The first 10 seconds of this piece features a diminuendo.

Related concepts

• Crescendo (N3 & N3 Tech)