The word coda literally means “tail” in Italian. Coda is used more often in the context of classical music, whereas outro is used to refer to the ending of a pop or rock song. An outro, in other words, is basically the ending of a song.

End with a disappointing coda and the listener may be left unimpressed.Ī more familiar name for a coda in popular music is an outro. A coda can greatly influence how strong of an effect a song or composition has on the listener, as it is often the climax of the entire piece. The length of a coda can vary greatly, spanning from just a few bars at the end of a song to an entire longer section that brings the song or musical composition to a close. However, in the context of music, a coda is a musical element at the end of a song or a composition that brings the whole piece to an end. In fact, the word “coda” can be used when talking about any kind of ending in general. For example, coda can refer to the end or the concluding section of a speech.

The word “coda” may be confusing sometimes as it has multiple definitions depending on the context in which it’s used. One such term is “coda.” What is the definition of a coda, and where can you expect to hear one? How about “codetta?” Read more to expand your musical vocabulary and keep up with the conversation when it turns to classical music.

When discussing music, the words and terminology used to talk about classical music are often different from those used in the context of popular music.

Coda music