The long and short of dynamics is that it refers to how loud or how quiet you play your instrument. but when you really ask yourself what dynamics in music are? it can be teased out to so much more though, how you use dynamics can build and release tension, it can create a certain feeling, pull listeners in and keep them captivated. Utilizing dynamics with your playing is creating your own voice on the instrument that other people can recognize.
Using dynamics isn’t just turning your volume knob up and down throughout the song. It’s a technique of being able to play soft and delicately on your instrument then digging in and letting the notes belt out to the listener. Here are some technical terms for different levels of dynamics that you may encounter on sheet music.
- pp – Pianissimo – very soft
- p – Piano – soft
- mp – Mezzo piano – medium-soft
- mf – Mezzo forte – medium-loud
- f – Forte – loud
- ff – Fortissimo – very loud
- fff – Triple forte – the loudest
To be honest I am not any good at reading sheet music but it’s good to know that their there. I’d like to dive into more of the how and why rather than the technical sheet music side.
Play like you want to speak.
You often hear music is a language and that is true in many senses. In the context of dynamics, we can think of how great public speakers talk, or even stand-up comedians. They are not up there speaking monotone with no pauses or no emphasis in key areas.
They try to pull you in with an interesting first statement, there will be moments of quiet, even moments of silence that build tension and draw your ear in to listen for what’s coming next, particular words or phrases that are emphasized and repeated, bold statements or even jokes that release tension and keep us entertained. So much goes into the idea of dynamics when you want people to listen. So, when playing music, we should look to these ideas and techniques and draw from them.
Moments of quiet and delicate playing can create a soft mellow mood, or it can create tension and make the audience want more. Building this tension appropriately then emphasizing notes and phrases with louder playing can make them memorable and stick in the listener’s ear. Releasing tension with big brash loud parts can also create a sense of resolution and satisfaction. This tension and resolution is tied into almost every aspect of music, especially the use of dynamics.
Creating your own voice.
Every musician has the same 12 notes to work with, so we have to use a few tricks to turn them into something special. At first you will likely take inspiration from the artists you love and look up to. You may start to sound like them and be happy with that, but as you continue you want to find your own voice on your instrument and dynamics can be a big part of this.
Take for example a technique like bending strings on the guitar, obviously your bending will change for different songs with different moods and feels but there are so many different ways you use bending. For example, gently picking with your fingers and doing a slow soft bend or really digging in with a pick and bending all the way through the target note to create tension and everything in-between. The great Albert king had an aggressive bending technique that you can recognize from just listening to his songs, that was part of his musical voice.
Another technique to utilize dynamics on is your vibrato (slightly altering a sustained notes pitch up and down), changing the width and speed of it can give your playing new character. All of this takes time to develop, some of it might just come naturally throughout your playing as you learn but it is a good aspect to think about when playing or improvising music.
Exercises
A good exercise to first get the idea into your head is, alongside ear training, when you next listening to any music try and listen out for changes in dynamics, this could be quiet part of the song where maybe the whole band drops out and the guitar is just left playing, or a climax to the song where the band are really going for it. It can even be listening out for small phrases people play and if they emphasize particular notes. Dynamics are everywhere, so listen intently and try to see how that makes the song feel or a certain phrase feel. The more you listen the more you take in, the more information and ideas you have when you are playing yourself.
Another good exercise is, get you instrument and really play around with dynamics. Pick a lick or a phrase or even a chord progression and try to emphasize different parts of it. Start loud, go quiet, do the opposite, emphasize the middle of the piece. Just muck around have fun try new things and explore how they sound to you and if you like them. Who knows you may stumble upon something great.
As always get out there and give it a go.