Forte-piano

As Printed on a Score

Printed under the note as fp; it affects that attack only — loud, then at once soft — and the soft level continues until the next dynamic. On sustaining instruments the drop happens within the note; on the piano the struck chord is loud and what follows is played softly. It is distinct from sfp, which adds a sharper accent.

Abbreviations: fp

How Composers Use It

Forte-piano creates a dramatic attack followed by immediate retreat — like a door slammed and then silence. It is one of the most dramatic dynamic effects available. Use it for opening chords that should ring and decay, or for sforzando-like accents that sustain at a soft level.

Example

Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13 (“Pathétique”), first movement, m. 1: the opening C minor chord of the “Grave” is marked fp — struck forte, with the rest of the bar played piano.

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