Explore Bar Lines & Repeats with music dictionary guides to measures, endings, repeat signs, volta brackets, and navigation marks.
A bar line is a vertical line on a musical staff that divides the staff into measures, indicating the regular rhythmic grouping defined by the time signature. It helps performers keep tempo, locate places in the score, and signals structural boundaries such as phrase ends or repeats.
In music notation, a segno is a sign resembling a stylized “S” that marks the point to which performers return when a D.S. (Dal Segno) repeat instruction is given.
In musical notation, a coda is a navigational symbol that directs the performer to a concluding passage, typically after a repeat or a section marked da capo. It functions as a structural marker, helping to shape the overall form of a piece.
A repeat sign is a musical notation indicating that a section of music should be performed again. It appears as a pair of dots flanking a double bar line and can be combined with other signs to control the number of repeats.