Repeats and Endings in Music

Core Idea

Repeat signs in written music tell the performer to go back and play a section again. Two dots next to a double bar line mean "go back to the beginning" or "go back to the matching repeat sign." First and second endings let a repeated section have a different ending the second time through.

How It's Best Learned

Look at simple sheet music with repeat signs and trace the path through the music with a finger. Practice clapping a short written piece, following the repeat signs correctly. Discuss: Why would a composer use repeat signs instead of writing the section out again?

Common Misconceptions

• Thinking you always repeat from the very beginning; a forward-facing repeat sign can mark a different starting point.
• Confusing repeat signs with the form of the music; repeat signs are a notation shortcut, not a description of form.
• Believing repeating is just doing the exact same thing twice; performers often add slight variation on the repeat.

Explainer

When a composer wants a section of music to be played more than once, they do not have to write it out again. Instead, they use repeat signs, which are special symbols that tell the performer to go back and play a section again. This saves space on the page and makes the sheet music easier to read.

A repeat sign looks like a double bar line (two thick vertical lines) with two dots next to it. When you reach a repeat sign with the dots on the left side, it means "go back." You go back either to the beginning of the piece or to a matching repeat sign that has its dots on the right side. Think of the two repeat signs as bookends: they mark the beginning and end of the section that gets repeated.

Sometimes a repeated section needs to end differently the second time. That is where first and second endings come in. These are marked with brackets labeled "1." and "2." above the music. The first time through, you play the first ending. When you repeat, you skip the first ending and jump to the second ending instead. This lets the composer reuse most of a section while changing how it finishes.

Following repeat signs is like following a map through the music. At first it might feel tricky to jump backward and skip over endings, but with practice it becomes second nature. One helpful tip is to trace the path through the music with your finger before you start playing. Follow the repeat signs and endings to see the full journey from start to finish. This way, you will not get lost when you are performing.