Repeating is now OK! The meaning and usage of the repetition symbol (repeat symbol)

This time I will explain the repetition symbol (repeat symbol)

Repeat marks are popular marks often used in musical scores.

If you write the same measures over and over again when repeating the same melody, the score will become long and difficult to read.

For example, in J-POP, if the first and second verses have the same accompaniment, it would be a pain to write them twice.

The repetition symbol was created to solve this problem.

Basically, once any repetition symbol

If you repeat it too many times, the song will never end.

Of course, there are exceptions, so I will explain them accordingly.

List of repetition symbols (repeat symbols)

First, let's take a look at the list of repetition symbols.

The meaning and usage will be explained later.

number	symbol	How to read
①		Repeat symbol
②		1st parenthesis
③		second parenthesis
④		Da Capo
⑤		Dal Segno
⑥		segno
⑥		Fine
⑦		to Coda
⑧		coda

I will explain the eight representative ones above.

There are so many of them, and as usual, they are pronounced in Italian, so it's hard to get your head around them.

For personal enjoyment, the reading method is not very . Make sure you remember the meaning .

①Repetition symbol

This repeat symbol is the most common.

It is used in many musical scores, regardless of genre.

It is easy to memorize and is designed to be easy to understand visually.

meaning

symbol	meaning
	Go back (Start from the beginning unless otherwise instructed)
	When you come back, start here

It's very simple.

Let's take a look at the sheet music and see how to use it.

How to use

Example I

If the repeat marks are arranged as shown in the diagram above, in what order should I go through the measures?

The answers are in the order shown below.

There is a [go back] repeat symbol in the second measure, so go back accordingly.

In this case, there is no specific direction to return to, so you will return to the beginning of the score.

Once it returns, it has finished its role as a repeat mark, so we can move on from measure 2 to measure 3.

Example II

This time, the return position is specified.

This is also not that difficult.

The answers are in the order shown below.

There is a [go back] repeat symbol in the second measure.

Similarly, in the second measure, there is a repeat symbol that says [When you return, start here], so play the second measure again.

After that, we move on to the third measure.

These are the repetition symbols for ①.

②1st parenthesis, ③2nd parenthesis

Next, I will explain ② and ③.

This is also easy to understand, so it's simple and not difficult.

meaning

symbol	meaning
	When repeating with other repeat symbols, the bar advances to the next measure only the first time
	When repeating with other repeat marks, the second time the bar advances to the next measure.

It's simple, but it's hard to understand just by looking at it.

I will explain how to use the repetition symbol in ① with examples.

How to use

example

The repetition symbol ① is used in the third measure.

This answer is

The order is shown below.

After the first measure in parentheses, use the repeat sign to return to the beginning, but from the second time onwards, the playback will proceed from the second measure to the fourth measure without going to the third measure.

It's still a repeat symbol that's easy to remember visually, so if you think about it carefully, you'll be able to figure out the order.

By the way, the second and subsequent parentheses may be followed by "third parenthesis," "fourth parenthesis," etc. (Although it's rare)

As the name suggests, when it is repeated for the third time, when it is repeated for the fourth time, etc., it is simply repeated, so don't rush and check the order.

④Da Capo

From this point on, it becomes visually unrecognizable.

Just like the multiplication table in arithmetic, you won't be able to deal with it unless you memorize it once, so do your best to memorize it.

Even if you look it up each time, you may remember it naturally.

By the way, "Da" means "from" in Italian, and "Capo" means "beginning" in Italian, so the literal translation is "from the beginning."

meaning

symbol	meaning
	Return to beginning of song

This is simple.

As usual, this will have no effect after the second time, so you only need to repeat it once.

How to use

example

There is a da capo symbol at the end of the second measure.

The answers are in the order shown below.

It's easy.

I don't think there is any need for special explanation.

④Dal Segno, ⑤Segno

Dal segno is very similar to da capo in ③, so it is an easy symbol to confuse.

"Dal" means "from" in Italian (same meaning as "Da" in ③), and "Segno" means "mark" in Italian.

The literal translation is "from the landmark."

Similarly, ⑤, seño, is also spelled the same way, so it means "landmark."

meaning

symbol	meaning
	Return to Segno
	Coming here from Dalsegno

It's simple once you understand the Italian meaning.

Again, as usual, the effect will be gone from the second time, so please note that you can only repeat it once.

How to use

example

There is a dal segno symbol at the end of the second measure.

There is also a segno at the beginning of the second measure.

The answers are in the order shown below.

It's easy again.

I don't think there is any need for special explanation.

⑥Fine

The name is "Fine". Please note that this is not the English word "fine".

Although this symbol itself does not have the meaning of repetition, it is used together with the repetition symbol, so keep it in mind.

meaning

The meaning is simple, but since it's Italian, you may not be familiar with it.

This is what we call "Finish" in English.

The word ``fin'' is sometimes written at the end of a movie, which means ``the end'' in French.

All are variations of the Latin word "finere".

How to use

example

There is a da capo symbol ④ at the end of the second measure.

Let's think about it while reviewing ④.

The answer is shown below.

I don't think there is any need for special explanation.

In reality, there probably isn't a sheet music like this, but...

Make sure you don't accidentally go to the second measure at ④.

⑦ to Coda, ⑧ Coda

The Italian meaning is "tail, tail."

Please note that this is a little complicated.

meaning

symbol	meaning
	Jump from here to the coda position (after repeating with a repeat symbol)
	Coming here from To Coda

I said it would fly, but I guess you could say it warps.

It might be faster to see how it is actually used.

How to use

example

As before, there is a da capo symbol ④ at the end of the second measure.

The answer is shown below.

After returning to the beginning with da capo, there is a ⑦ to coda, so jump from the 1st measure to the ⑧ coda position in the 3rd measure.