Dynamics
The short version
How loud or soft the music is, moment to moment.
Not the volume knob — the performance. A drummer hitting harder in the chorus is dynamics. Classical music writes it as p (soft) and f (loud).
Velocity vs volume
Velocity changes how the hit was played. Volume just changes how loud you hear everything.
Why you'd careFlat dynamics is the number one reason programmed music sounds fake. Variation makes it breathe.
88 words and counting in The Music Guide. Back to the guide