Da capo, D. C. - Return to the beginning.

Dal - "From the," "by the."

Dal segno, D. S. - Repeat from the sign . Frequently followed by al Fine.

Damper pedal - On pianos, the pedal that lifts the dampers from the strings.

Deceptive cadence - Chordal progression dominant (V) to a chord other than the expected tonic.

Decrescendo -  Gradually softer. Synonymous with diminuendo.

Degree - One of the eight consecutive tones in a major or minor scale.

Delicato - Delicately.

Di - Of, with.

Diminished - The term for an interval which has been decreased from the major by two half steps and from the perfect by one half step, e.g. c-a, diminished sixth, or c-g, a diminished fifth. Also used for a triad which has a minor third and a diminished fifth, e.g. c, c-e g.

Diminuendo, dim - Gradually softer. Synonymous with decrescendo.

Diminution - The shortening of note values; the opposite of augmentation.

Dirge - A piece that is performed at a funeral or memorial service.

Disjunct - The term used to describe intervals larger than a second; the opposite of conjunct.

Dissonance - Sounds of unrest, e.g. intervals of seconds and sevenths; the opposite of consonance.

Divisi, div - An indication of divided musical parts.

Do - The first degree of the major scale.

Dolce - Sweetly.

Dolcissimo - Very sweetly.

Doloroso - Sadly; mournfully.

Dominant - The fifth degree of the major or minor scale. Also, the term for the triad built on the fifth degree, labelled V in harmonic analysis.

Double bar - Two vertical lines placed on the staff to indicate the end of a section or a composition. Also, used with two dots to enclose repeated sections.

Double flat -  A symbol for lowering pitch one step.

Double sharp -  A symbol for raising pitch one step.

Double tonguing - On flute and brass instruments, the technique of rapidly articulating notes by using the front and the back of the tongue in alternation (t-k-t-k-t-k).

Down beat - The first beat; given by the conductor with a downward stroke.

Down bow - In the violin family, drawing the bow downward from its frog. The symbol is: .

Du - "From the," "of the."

Duet - A piece for two performers.

Duplet -  A group of two notes performed in the time of three of the same kind.

Dynamics - Varying degrees of loud and soft.