Dal Segno (D.S.)

When you reach D.S. al Fine, jump back to the segno and play until Fine, then stop. Locate both markers before beginning. Fine is an endpoint for the return route, not a command to stop the first time it appears without context.

At D.S. al Coda, return to the segno. On that return, continue to To Coda and jump to the separate Coda section. The two coda-related signs have different jobs: one says when to leave, the other where to land.

Da Capo returns to the very beginning. D.S. can start the repeated route later, avoiding an opening passage that should only sound once. The difference is structural, not merely an alternate Italian phrase.

Before playing a score with D.S., find the segno and draw a light arrow from the D.S. instruction to it. Add a second arrow if there is a coda jump. Then say the section order aloud without playing notes. A route you can explain is much easier to perform at tempo.