D.C. (Da Capo) Explained: How to Read Piano Sheet Music! (D.C. al Fine)

Da Capo (D.C.) means “return to the beginning of the piece” in music notation.

Da Capo is an Italian term meaning “from the head,” and is used to specify a repeat section in a piece of music in a concise way.

What is Da Capo?

• Symbol: Typically abbreviated as D.C..
• Meaning: It instructs to return to the beginning of the piece.

In the case of “D.C. al Fine,” it means to return to the beginning and end at the point marked “Fine.”

Differences from Other Repeat Symbols

• Repeat Symbol: Repeats specific bars in the music.
• Dal Segno: Instructs to return to the Segno symbol ().

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Summary

Da Capo (D.C.) is a symbol that indicates a repeat in music, essential for reading sheet music accurately.

Beginners should first understand its basic usage and get familiar with it through practice on actual pieces.