Imagine driving in a car and seeing a detour or dead end sign, that sign would redirect the driver to take another route. Similarly, when a musician sees a dal segno in sheet music, that is a navigation sign telling the musician to skip to another part of the music.

Definition

The musical term ​dal segno, which is Italian for “from the sign," refers to a symbol or navigation marker that instructs a musician to repeat a passage starting from the sign. In word form, it is most often abbreviated D.S. in musical notation or just called a segno in English. It does not make sense to refer to a segno as a “segno sign,” since that redundantly translates to mean “sign sign.”

Musical Notation Marks

There are a number of musical notation marks when reading sheet music. Some may be directional marks like dal segno, others may be instructional to the musician to adjust volume or the speed of the music. Other marks can tell a musician how to play a single note, such as with an accent or to hold it out.

Below is a chart of navigational or directional markers involving dal segno.

Marker Translation Direction

D.S. or dal segno From the sign Start playing from the segno

D.S. al fine From the sign to the end Play from the segno to the end of the music

D.S. al coda From the sign to the coda Play from the segno to the coda mark

D.S. Al Fine

D.S. al fine is a common navigational marker that instructs a musician to go back to the sign and end the piece at al fine, which is Italian for the word, “the end.” The end can be marked by a final barline, a double-barline or is marked with the word fine.

D.S. Al Coda

Another common navigational marker is D.S. al coda, which instructs a musician reading sheet music to go back to the sign, and when a coda sign appears, skip to the next coda.

A coda is an oval-shaped musical symbol with oversized crosshairs. Coda is Italian for the word “tail.” Similarly, a coda is a passage that brings a piece or musical movement to an end. Technically, it is an expanded musical cadence. This navigation may add a few measures, or it may be as complex as to add an entire musical section.

Italian Music Glossary for Piano

D.S. al Fine

D.S. al coda

Symbols of Piano Music

D.C. al coda

coda

Printable Piano Lesson Book

rolled chord

The Staff in Music Notation

Musical Symbols in Piano Music

An Introduction to the Elements of Music

al fine

AP Style Cheat Sheet

The Italian Commands of Piano Music

repeat bar

marcato

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Imagine driving in a car and seeing a detour or dead end sign, that sign would redirect the driver to take another route. Similarly, when a musician sees a dal segno in sheet music, that is a navigation sign telling the musician to skip to another part of the music.

Definition

The musical term ​dal segno, which is Italian for “from the sign," refers to a symbol or navigation marker that instructs a musician to repeat a passage starting from the sign. In word form, it is most often abbreviated D.S. in musical notation or just called a segno in English. It does not make sense to refer to a segno as a “segno sign,” since that redundantly translates to mean “sign sign.”

Musical Notation Marks

There are a number of musical notation marks when reading sheet music. Some may be directional marks like dal segno, others may be instructional to the musician to adjust volume or the speed of the music. Other marks can tell a musician how to play a single note, such as with an accent or to hold it out.

Below is a chart of navigational or directional markers involving dal segno.

Marker Translation Direction

D.S. or dal segno From the sign Start playing from the segno

D.S. al fine From the sign to the end Play from the segno to the end of the music

D.S. al coda From the sign to the coda Play from the segno to the coda mark

D.S. Al Fine

D.S. al fine is a common navigational marker that instructs a musician to go back to the sign and end the piece at al fine, which is Italian for the word, “the end.” The end can be marked by a final barline, a double-barline or is marked with the word fine.

D.S. Al Coda

Another common navigational marker is D.S. al coda, which instructs a musician reading sheet music to go back to the sign, and when a coda sign appears, skip to the next coda.

A coda is an oval-shaped musical symbol with oversized crosshairs. Coda is Italian for the word “tail.” Similarly, a coda is a passage that brings a piece or musical movement to an end. Technically, it is an expanded musical cadence. This navigation may add a few measures, or it may be as complex as to add an entire musical section.

Italian Music Glossary for Piano

D.S. al Fine

D.S. al coda

Symbols of Piano Music

D.C. al coda

coda

Printable Piano Lesson Book

rolled chord

The Staff in Music Notation

Musical Symbols in Piano Music

An Introduction to the Elements of Music

al fine

AP Style Cheat Sheet

The Italian Commands of Piano Music

repeat bar

marcato

When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept Cookies

Imagine driving in a car and seeing a detour or dead end sign, that sign would redirect the driver to take another route. Similarly, when a musician sees a dal segno in sheet music, that is a navigation sign telling the musician to skip to another part of the music.

Definition

The musical term ​dal segno, which is Italian for “from the sign," refers to a symbol or navigation marker that instructs a musician to repeat a passage starting from the sign. In word form, it is most often abbreviated D.S. in musical notation or just called a segno in English. It does not make sense to refer to a segno as a “segno sign,” since that redundantly translates to mean “sign sign.”

Musical Notation Marks

There are a number of musical notation marks when reading sheet music. Some may be directional marks like dal segno, others may be instructional to the musician to adjust volume or the speed of the music. Other marks can tell a musician how to play a single note, such as with an accent or to hold it out.

Below is a chart of navigational or directional markers involving dal segno.

Marker Translation Direction

D.S. or dal segno From the sign Start playing from the segno

D.S. al fine From the sign to the end Play from the segno to the end of the music

D.S. al coda From the sign to the coda Play from the segno to the coda mark

D.S. Al Fine

D.S. al fine is a common navigational marker that instructs a musician to go back to the sign and end the piece at al fine, which is Italian for the word, “the end.” The end can be marked by a final barline, a double-barline or is marked with the word fine.

D.S. Al Coda

Another common navigational marker is D.S. al coda, which instructs a musician reading sheet music to go back to the sign, and when a coda sign appears, skip to the next coda.

A coda is an oval-shaped musical symbol with oversized crosshairs. Coda is Italian for the word “tail.” Similarly, a coda is a passage that brings a piece or musical movement to an end. Technically, it is an expanded musical cadence. This navigation may add a few measures, or it may be as complex as to add an entire musical section.

Imagine driving in a car and seeing a detour or dead end sign, that sign would redirect the driver to take another route. Similarly, when a musician sees a dal segno in sheet music, that is a navigation sign telling the musician to skip to another part of the music.

Definition

The musical term ​dal segno, which is Italian for “from the sign," refers to a symbol or navigation marker that instructs a musician to repeat a passage starting from the sign. In word form, it is most often abbreviated D.S. in musical notation or just called a segno in English. It does not make sense to refer to a segno as a “segno sign,” since that redundantly translates to mean “sign sign.”

Musical Notation Marks

There are a number of musical notation marks when reading sheet music. Some may be directional marks like dal segno, others may be instructional to the musician to adjust volume or the speed of the music. Other marks can tell a musician how to play a single note, such as with an accent or to hold it out.

Below is a chart of navigational or directional markers involving dal segno.

Marker Translation Direction

D.S. or dal segno From the sign Start playing from the segno

D.S. al fine From the sign to the end Play from the segno to the end of the music

D.S. al coda From the sign to the coda Play from the segno to the coda mark

D.S. Al Fine

D.S. al fine is a common navigational marker that instructs a musician to go back to the sign and end the piece at al fine, which is Italian for the word, “the end.” The end can be marked by a final barline, a double-barline or is marked with the word fine.

D.S. Al Coda

Another common navigational marker is D.S. al coda, which instructs a musician reading sheet music to go back to the sign, and when a coda sign appears, skip to the next coda.

A coda is an oval-shaped musical symbol with oversized crosshairs. Coda is Italian for the word “tail.” Similarly, a coda is a passage that brings a piece or musical movement to an end. Technically, it is an expanded musical cadence. This navigation may add a few measures, or it may be as complex as to add an entire musical section.

D.S. Al Fine

D.S. al fine is a common navigational marker that instructs a musician to go back to the sign and end the piece at al fine, which is Italian for the word, “the end.” The end can be marked by a final barline, a double-barline or is marked with the word fine.

D.S. Al Coda

Another common navigational marker is D.S. al coda, which instructs a musician reading sheet music to go back to the sign, and when a coda sign appears, skip to the next coda.

A coda is an oval-shaped musical symbol with oversized crosshairs. Coda is Italian for the word “tail.” Similarly, a coda is a passage that brings a piece or musical movement to an end. Technically, it is an expanded musical cadence. This navigation may add a few measures, or it may be as complex as to add an entire musical section.

  • Italian Music Glossary for Piano

  • D.S. al Fine

  • D.S. al coda

  • Symbols of Piano Music

  • D.C. al coda

  • coda

  • Printable Piano Lesson Book

  • rolled chord

  • The Staff in Music Notation

  • Musical Symbols in Piano Music

  • An Introduction to the Elements of Music

  • al fine

  • AP Style Cheat Sheet

  • The Italian Commands of Piano Music

  • repeat bar

  • marcato

Italian Music Glossary for Piano

Italian Music Glossary for Piano

D.S. al Fine

D.S. al Fine

D.S. al coda

D.S. al coda

Symbols of Piano Music

Symbols of Piano Music

D.C. al coda

D.C. al coda

coda

coda

Printable Piano Lesson Book

Printable Piano Lesson Book

rolled chord

rolled chord

The Staff in Music Notation

The Staff in Music Notation

Musical Symbols in Piano Music

Musical Symbols in Piano Music

An Introduction to the Elements of Music

An Introduction to the Elements of Music

al fine

al fine

AP Style Cheat Sheet

AP Style Cheat Sheet

The Italian Commands of Piano Music

The Italian Commands of Piano Music

repeat bar

repeat bar

marcato

marcato

Home

Entertainment

Careers

Activities

Humor

About Us Advertise Careers Privacy Policy Editorial Guidelines Contact Terms of Use EU Privacy

LiveAbout is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.

Home

Home

Entertainment

Careers

Activities

Humor

About Us Advertise Careers Privacy Policy Editorial Guidelines Contact Terms of Use EU Privacy

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  • EU Privacy

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LiveAbout is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.

When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept Cookies