Pianissimo

Find the dynamic under or near the staff at the point where the new level begins. Play the following notes at that level until another instruction changes it. The symbol does not alter which pitch you play, how long each written note lasts, or the basic tempo.

Two p letters do not mean exactly half the volume of one p. They ask for a softer level within the range of the instrument and musical setting.

A passage can move from pp to p without becoming loud. Listen for a small, deliberate step rather than an exaggerated jump. The order of the familiar marks is pp, p, mp, mf, f, ff, from softer toward louder. Their spacing is a musical judgment, not a numeric scale. Repeat the same short phrase at pp and p; a comparison is more informative than asking whether one version is “loud enough” in isolation.

Do not change the beat when you change the volume. Count four equal beats while playing the phrase twice. Also avoid changing articulation accidentally: a softer note can still be detached or accented. Dynamics, Articulation and Terms shows how those instructions work together.

Mark four notes with pp and four with p. Play the eight notes without stopping at the change. Ask a listener to point to the first note where the level shifted. If they cannot hear a difference, adjust the contrast while keeping the same tempo and pitches.