First-time bar (prima volta)
Prima volta (Italian “the first time”) is the bracket with the figure 1 over the last bars of a repeated section. It holds only on the first pass; on the repeat it is skipped and bracket 2 is played.
- Sign
- bracket with “1.” over the closing bars
- Holds
- on the first pass
- After it
- repeat sign, back to the beginning or to the start-repeat sign
- Counterpart
- seconda volta (bracket 2)
First time, second time
Many pieces repeat a section, but the two passes end differently: the first time the ending leads back to the beginning, the second time it goes on. For this there are the volta brackets: numbered brackets over the closing bars. Bracket 1 is called “prima volta”, bracket 2 “seconda volta”. In English they are also called “first and second endings” or “first-time and second-time bars”.
Repeat with bracket 1 and bracket 2 (treble clef)
The section begins at the repeat sign on the left. The first time the bar under bracket 1 sounds (G–C), and the repeat sign sends you back to the beginning. The second time bracket 1 is skipped and the bar under bracket 2 is played (E–D), after which the final bar follows.
Repeat with endings in the bass clef
Here too the first bracket leads back to the beginning, the second on to the end. The audio example plays both passes one after the other.
How to read them
On the first pass you play all bars up to the repeat sign after bracket 1 and then jump back. On the second pass you play up to bracket 1, skip it and go directly to bracket 2. Bracket 2 as a rule has no repeat sign. After it the piece goes on. The bars under bracket 1 are therefore heard exactly once, those under bracket 2 likewise once.
What it is good for
The voltas save space and show the structure: the section stays the same, only the ending changes. For example the first bracket can lead into a half cadence that returns to the beginning, the second into an authentic cadence that goes on to the next part.
Common mistakes
- Playing bracket 1 again the second time: It holds only on the first pass.
- Jumping back again after bracket 2: There the piece goes on.
- Overlooking the repeat sign: It comes at the end of bracket 1 and sends you back.
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Related terms
Repeat signSeconda voltaSegnoDa capoDal segnoCodaFine
Editor: Maik Krohm · reviewed on 3 October 2026
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