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Meaning & use

fff

abbreviation, noun·Advancedmusictechnical

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UK/ˌtrɪpəl ˈfɔːteɪ/
US/ˌtrɪpəl ˈfɔːrteɪ/

Meanings

  1. abbreviationmusictechnical

    A dynamic marking in written music showing that a passage should be performed very loudly, more loudly than ff.

    Grammar: Used as a standalone symbol on the staff; it is not read as a word but spoken as 'triple forte'.

    Patterns

    • marked fff
    • play fff
    • sing fff
    • a passage marked fff

    The final bars of the symphony are marked fff, so the whole orchestra plays at full volume.

    When you reach the fff in the chorus, take a deep breath and give it everything you have.

    The conductor asked for a true fff, not just a loud ff.

  2. nouncountablemusictechnical

    A moment or passage in a piece of music that is performed at this very high volume.

    Grammar: Countable: you can talk about one fff or several fffs in a score.

    Patterns

    • a dramatic fff
    • the fffs in the score
    • build to an fff

    The climax is a thrilling fff that shakes the concert hall.

    There are three fffs in the last movement, each louder than the one before.

    Singers often find the fffs exhausting but exhilarating.

Common combinations

marked fff
The coda is marked fff in the score, so the brass section really lets loose.
play fff
The violins are told to play fff at the climax, which requires a lot of bow pressure.
sing fff
The choir had to sing fff without shouting, keeping the tone pure.
a passage marked fff
A passage marked fff can be exhausting for wind players who need to control their breath.
reach the fff
When the orchestra reaches the fff, the audience often sits up straighter.

Synonyms and how they differ

fortississimo
The full Italian word for this marking; it is more formal and mostly used in teaching or discussion, while fff is the everyday written symbol.
triple forte
A spoken English way to say fff; it is less formal than the Italian term and easier for beginners.

Opposites

ppppianississimo

Word family

f abbreviation
A marking meaning loud (forte), one step softer than ff.
ff abbreviation
A marking meaning very loud (fortissimo), one step softer than fff.
p abbreviation
A marking meaning soft (piano), the opposite direction from fff.
pp abbreviation
A marking meaning very soft (pianissimo), two steps softer than fff.
ppp abbreviation
A marking meaning as soft as possible (pianississimo), the opposite extreme from fff.

Commonly confused: fff or ff? fff or fff (in other contexts)?

fff vs ff

ff means 'very loud' and is one step softer than fff; fff is the loudest of the three common loud markings.

fff vs fff (in other contexts)

Outside music, fff can stand for 'freeze, fight, flight' or other phrases, but in a musical score it always means very loud.

Practice

In a musical score, what does the marking fff tell the performer to do?

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