Dal segno

As Printed on a Score

Printed at the end of a section as D.S., D.S. al Fine or D.S. al Coda, sending the player back to the segno — an S crossed by a slash with two dots — printed above the staff where the return begins. Play then continues to Fine or to the coda sign.

Abbreviations: D.S., D. S.

How Composers Use It

Dal segno functions like da capo but returns to a specific point (marked with 𝄋) rather than the very beginning. Use it when the return should skip an introduction and begin directly with the main material.

Example

Common in popular song forms and shorter classical pieces — D.S. al Coda directs performers back to the sign, then to the coda on the second pass.

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