Which musical marking means gradually getting softer?

• A. fortissimo
• B. decrescendo
• C. marcato
• D. sostenuto

Answer: (B)

Dynamics control how loud or soft you play and how that volume changes over a phrase. A marking that means gradually getting softer tells you to decrease the loudness step by step as you move through the passage. This is the decrescendo (also called diminuendo), and it sets up a smooth, fading dynamic from a louder level to a softer one.

Fortissimo means playing very loudly, which is the opposite of getting softer. Marcato means to play with a strong, accented emphasis on the notes, not a gradual change in volume. Sostenuto means to sustain notes, holding them for longer values, rather than changing the volume over time.