Et cetera

As Printed on a Score

Printed (etc.) after a written pattern to show that it continues in the same way; it applies until a new pattern or a change is written.

Abbreviations: etc.

How Composers Use It

Use it to save writing repeated figures, but only where the continuation is unambiguous: a regular accompaniment pattern, a repeated chord shape. Show how long the pattern lasts or mark the point where it stops. Simile or fully written-out notes are more common in modern scores and leave less to guesswork, especially for players reading separate parts.

Example

Satie, Socrate, second part (“Les bords de l’Ilissus”), piano, m. 57: “etc.” follows the “subito” and pp of the bar before.

Related Terms