What tempo is
Tempo is the speed of the beat. It appears above the first measure in two ways:
- As a number: “♩ = 90” means 90 quarter notes per minute, or 90 BPM (beats per minute).
- As a word: usually Italian, like Allegro or Andante. The word also describes the character: Allegro means “cheerful”.
Tempo chart with BPM
The numbers are approximate; metronomes, eras and teachers use slightly different ranges.
| Tempo | Meaning | Approx. BPM |
|---|---|---|
| Grave | very slow and solemn | up to 40 |
| Largo | slow and broad | 40 to 60 |
| Lento | slow | 45 to 60 |
| Adagio | slow, at ease | 66 to 76 |
| Andante | “walking”, an easy pace | 76 to 108 |
| Moderato | moderate | 108 to 120 |
| Allegretto | fairly brisk | 112 to 120 |
| Allegro | fast and bright | 120 to 156 |
| Vivace | lively | 156 to 176 |
| Presto | very fast | 168 to 200 |
| Prestissimo | as fast as possible | over 200 |
To feel each one, set the online metronome to the numbers in the chart. Andante is close to walking pace.
Tempo changes
| Marking | What to do |
|---|---|
| accelerando (accel.) | speed up gradually |
| ritardando (rit., ritard.) | slow down gradually |
| rallentando (rall.) | slow down, like rit. |
| ritenuto (riten.) | suddenly slower |
| a tempo | return to the previous tempo |
| Tempo I (Tempo primo) | return to the opening tempo |
| rubato | freedom to stretch and shorten notes expressively |
| 𝄐 fermata | hold that note or rest longer |
Modifying words
- molto: very (molto allegro); poco: a little (poco rit.)
- più and meno: more and less (più mosso = more motion)
- ma non troppo: but not too much (Allegro ma non troppo)
- assai: quite; con moto: with motion; cantabile: singing
Now put the theory into your fingers
In Dedilhado Vivo you learn flute, guitar, violin or piano by seeing each finger on the screen, and the app listens to you play through the microphone.
Practice theory in the free appHow to practice at the right tempo
- Start well below the final tempo, around 60% of the speed. An Allegro at 132 can start at 80.
- Go up 4 BPM at a time, only when the passage is clean three times in a row.
- Don't rush the easy parts or drag the hard ones: the metronome shows it right away.
- To see how the beat groups into measures, read rhythm and time signatures.
Frequently asked questions
What BPM is Allegro?
Around 120 to 156 BPM. The numbers are approximate and vary a little between metronomes and eras.
What is the difference between Adagio and Andante?
Adagio is slower (about 66 to 76 BPM). Andante is an easy walking pace (about 76 to 108 BPM).
What does rit. mean in music?
Ritardando: gradually slowing down. It is usually followed by a tempo, which means return to the previous speed.
What does BPM mean?
Beats per minute. ♩ = 60 is one beat per second; ♩ = 120 is two per second.