In this article, I will explain about the repeat sign (repeat sign).
Repetition marks are popular symbols often used in sheet music.
When repeating the same melody, writing the same measure over and over again makes the score longer and more difficult to read.
For example, if the first and second numbers in a J-Pop song had the same accompaniment, it would be tedious to write it twice.
The repetition symbol was created to solve this problem.
Both of these repetition symbols are basically used once and not used a second time.
If I had to repeat myself over and over again, I wouldn’t be able to finish the song.
Of course, there are exceptions, which we will discuss in the following sections.
目次
List of Repeat Symbols (Repeat Symbols)
First, let’s look at a list of repetition symbols.
The meaning and usage are discussed below.
| number | symbol | how to read |
| (i) |    | Repetition (repeat) symbol |
| (2) |  | 1st bracket |
| (iii) |  | brackets 2 |
| 4) |  | Da Capo |
| 5) |  | Dal Segno |
| 6) |  | seño |
| 6) |  | fýne |
| seven (used in legal documents) |  | To Coda |
| viii) |  | coda |
The above eight typical examples will be explained.
Since there are so many and, as usual, the reading is in Italian, it is hard to get them into my head.
The reading is not so important for personal enjoyment. Learn the meaning well.
(1) Repeat symbol
The most common is this repetition symbol.
It is used in many sheet music regardless of genre.
It is easy to remember and designed to be visually recognizable.
meaning
| symbol | meaning |
| Back to Previous (From the very beginning unless otherwise instructed) |
| When you come back, start here. |
Very simple.
Now let’s look at the specific sheet music to see how to use it.
treatment
Example I
If the repeated symbols are arranged as shown in the diagram above, in what order should the measures proceed?
The answers are in the order shown in the figure below.
There is a [back to previous] repetition sign in the second measure, so follow it to return.
In this case, there are no specific instructions on where to return, so we return to the beginning of the score.
Once we go back, we have completed the role of the repetition marker, so we can proceed from measure 2 to measure 3.
Example II
This time, the return position is specified.
This is not too difficult.
The answers are in the order shown in the figure below.
There is a [back to previous] repetition sign in the second measure.
The same second measure has a repeating sign [When you come back, start from here], so play the second measure again.
Then we move on to the third measure.
These are the repetition symbols in (1).
(2) No. 1 bracket, (3) No. 2 bracket
Next, we will explain (2) and (3).
This is also simple and not difficult to understand visually.
meaning
| symbol | meaning |
| Only the first time when repeating with another repeat sign, proceed to the measure after this one. |
| Only the second time when repeating with another repeat sign, proceed to the measure after this one. |
It’s simple, but it’s not clear when you look at it this way.
The use of the repetition symbols in ① will be explained along with examples.
treatment
Example
You use the repetition symbol (1) in the third measure.
The answer here is.
The order is shown in the figure below.
After the first bracketed measure, the repetition mark returns to the beginning, but instead of going to the third measure for the second time, it goes from the second measure to the fourth measure.
It is still a repetitive symbol that is easy to remember visually, so if you think carefully, you can figure out the order.
Incidentally, after the second bracket, it may be followed by “third bracket”, “fourth bracket”, 、、、、, and so on. (This is rarely the case.)
As the name implies, just repeat the third iteration and the fourth iteration 、、、、, so don’t be in a hurry to check the order.
4) Da Capo
From this point on, it becomes visually unrecognizable.
Like the 99 words in arithmetic, you have to memorize them once to deal with them, so do your best to learn them.
If you look it up each time, you may learn it naturally.
Incidentally, “Da” means “from” in Italian and “Capo” means “first” in Italian, so the literal translation is “from the beginning.
meaning
| symbol | meaning |
| Back to the beginning of the song |
This is simple.
As usual, this also becomes ineffective after the second time, so it is repeated only once.
treatment
Example
There is a da capo sign at the end of the second measure.
The answers are in the order shown in the figure below.
It’s easy.
I don’t think any particular explanation is necessary.
(4) Dal Segno, (5) Segno
Dal seño is very similar to da capo in (3) and is therefore an easy symbol to mistake.
Dal” means “from” in Italian (the same meaning as “Da” in (3)), and “Segno” means “landmark” in Italian.
The literal translation is “from a landmark.
Likewise, seño in (5) is spelled the same way, so it means “landmark.
meaning
| symbol | meaning |
| Return to Seño |
| Coming here from D’Arsenio. |
It’s simple if you know what Italian means.
Again, as usual, please note that it is one time to repeat the process, as the effect will be lost after the second time.
treatment
Example
There is a dal seño sign 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 in the figure below.
Again, easy.
I don’t think any particular explanation is necessary.
6) Fine
The name is “FINE”. Note that it is not “fine” in English.
This is not a repetition symbol per se, but it is used with the repetition symbol, so keep it in mind.
meaning
| symbol | meaning |
or
| (After repeating with repetition marks) End the song here. |
The meaning is simple, but since it is Italian, it is unfamiliar.
As we say in English, it is “Finish”.
You may see the word “fin” at the end of a movie, which means “the end” in French.
They are all variants of the Latin word “finere”.
treatment
Example
At the end of the second measure, there is a da capo sign (4).
Let’s consider this as we review (4).
The answer is shown in the figure below.
I don’t think any particular explanation is necessary.
In fact, you won’t find any sheet music like this, but…
Do not go to the second measure with ④ by mistake.
(7) to Coda, (8) Coda
The Italian meaning of the word is “tail, tails.
Note that it is a bit complicated.
meaning
| symbol | meaning |
| (After repeating with the repeat sign) jump from here to the coda position |
| Coming here from Tu Coda. |
I described it as flying, but it is more like warping.
It may be faster to actually see how to use it.
treatment
Example
As before, there is a da capo sign (4) at the end of the second measure.
The answer is shown in the figure below.
Once you return to the beginning with da capo, there is a ⑦ to coda, so jump from measure 1 to the position of ⑧ coda in measure 3.
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