Coda and To Coda
A coda is a final section, allowing further complexity in the format of a piece. After any number of other navigational signs, the music can finish on a more conclusive section than the other section endings. On repeating the piece after a D.C or D.S. the music can jump from a point labelled “To Coda” to the coda.
The stave is broken between the end of the main piece and the coda, indicating that it can only be reached from a To Coda.
Da Capo al Coda, D.C. al Coda
(go back to the beginning and repeat until the words “To Coda”, then skip to the word “Coda”)
The piece is played again from the beginning up to the words To Coda the jumps to the Coda (final section).
Segno (sign)
The segno provides another point in the music to repeat from. In a popular music song, for example, the first section is often an introduction, only intended to play at the very start. Other sections such as verses and choruses may repeat several times but without going back to the introduction. The start of the various verse and chorus sections could be marked with the segno so that the introduction isn’t repeated.
Dal Segno or D.S.
(go back to the sign and repeat from there)
If we want to go back to a section after the beginning of the piece rather than all the way back to the beginning, we can use the segno (“sign”). On reaching the term dal segno, the piece is repeated from the sign.
The abbreviation D.S. is often used instead of the full wording.
Dal Segno al Fine, D.S. al Fine
(go back to the sign and repeat from there till the word “Fine”, meaning ”end”)
Just like Da Capo al Fine but instead of repeating from the beginning of the piece till the word ”Fine”, we repeat from the sign till the word “Fine”.
Dal Segno al Coda, D.S. al Coda
(go back to the Segno and repeat until the words “To Coda”, then skip to the Coda)
This is like Da Capo al Coda but instead of going back to the beginning of the piece, we repeat from the Segno until the words “To Coda” then jump to the coda.
For a handy way to notate a repetitive rhythm, please visit Notation Shortcut: Repeat Bars.
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