fine

Fine marks the point where a piece ends, particularly when the ending does not coincide with the last bar of the written music. It appears in combination with da capo al fine (return to the beginning and play until fine) or dal segno al fine (return to the sign and play until fine). The marking is essential for navigation in pieces with repeat structures. Without fine, the performer would not know where to stop after taking the repeat. In Italian, fine (pronounced fee-neh) simply means end, and the marking is typically placed above the barline at the point of conclusion.