The symbol fp in sheet music means fortepiano: start a note or chord strongly, then become soft immediately. The two letters join the Italian dynamic words forte (loud) and piano (soft). It describes a sharp loud-to-soft gesture, not a gradual fade over several measures.
What the fp marking looks like
Look immediately below a note, chord or passage on the staff for two letters written close together: fp. This marking is different from a lowercase p placed by itself, which simply calls for a soft dynamic. It also differs from f, which means loud or strong. The illustration shows the compact symbol you might see below a staff.
Is fp the same as a loud note followed by a quieter note?
Sometimes the effect is exactly that in a piano part, but the symbol refers to a musical gesture rather than requiring any particular pair of pitches. In a string, wind or voice part, a performer may start a sustained sound forcefully and immediately reduce the volume. A pianist cannot continuously turn down the volume of a single already-struck acoustic piano string in the same way. Instead, the contrast is created through the attack, natural decay and the softer continuation that follows.
A simple exercise at the piano
Play middle C at a comfortably strong volume; then play the next three C notes softly and evenly. Listen for an abrupt contrast between the first sound and the continuation. Next, try a C-major chord (C, E and G) with a clear first attack and quiet following notes. Do not slam your wrist or force a harsh sound: a firm controlled attack differs from physical tension. Repeat at a slow tempo until the dynamic switch is intentional.
How fp differs from a crescendo and diminuendo
A crescendo gets gradually louder, and a diminuendo gets gradually softer. The key feature of fp is the immediate change from a strong beginning to a quieter level. A composer may place a crescendo after an fp, meaning the music becomes louder again after the sudden drop. The marking by itself does not specify a fixed number of decibels.
Why not just write an accent?
An accent mark (often shaped like a small greater-than sign) emphasizes a note relative to its neighbors. An fp also describes what happens next: the dynamic should become soft immediately. An accent without that soft continuation does not necessarily make the same musical shape. Teachers may use either to explain expressive contrast, but they are not interchangeable directions.
Does fortepiano also mean a historical instrument?
Yes, and that is a common source of confusion. The word fortepiano can name an earlier kind of piano, especially one associated with eighteenth- and early-nineteenth-century music. But as two letters fp placed near notes in a score, it ordinarily indicates the dynamic. The Duke University Sonic Dictionary explains this distinction and illustrates the loud-to-soft musical gesture.
FAQ: Does fp mean to use the sustain pedal?
No. The two letters refer to loudness, not pedal use. Follow separate pedal markings or your teacher’s guidance, and practice the dynamic contrast without pedal first so you can hear whether the following notes really are softer. See our guide to beginner piano pedal timing.
FAQ: Is fp different from sfz?
Yes. Sforzando (sf or sfz) emphasizes a note or chord suddenly; it does not by itself always require the following sound to settle at piano. Fortepiano specifically includes the strong attack and immediate softness. If you are learning to read different notations, this beginner treble-clef guide can help you locate the pitches while you work on dynamics.
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