Tempo Terms Guide

Classical music uses Italian terms to indicate tempo. Here’s what they mean and roughly what BPM they correspond to.

The Main Tempo Markings

Term	Meaning	Approximate BPM
Larghissimo	Extremely slow	Below 24
Largo	Very slow, broad	40–66
Larghetto	Rather slow	60–66
Grave	Slow and solemn	40–60
Adagio	Slow and stately	66–76
Adagietto	Slightly faster than Adagio	70–80
Andante	Walking pace	76–108
Andantino	Slightly faster than Andante	80–108
Moderato	Moderate speed	108–120
Allegretto	Moderately fast	112–120
Allegro	Fast and bright	120–168
Vivace	Lively and fast	156–176
Presto	Very fast	168–200
Prestissimo	Extremely fast	200+

Tempo Modifiers

These terms adjust or change the tempo during a piece:

• Accelerando (accel.) — gradually getting faster
• Ritardando (rit.) — gradually getting slower
• Rallentando (rall.) — slowing down, similar to ritardando
• A tempo — return to the original tempo
• Fermata (𝄐) — hold a note longer than its written value

Practical Reference for Common Styles

Style	Typical BPM range
Ballad / slow soul	60–80
Pop / rock	100–130
Dance / EDM	120–145
Jazz (medium swing)	120–180
Bebop jazz	180–300
Drum and bass	160–180

Note on BPM Ranges

BPM values for classical terms are approximate — different conductors and editions interpret them differently. The terms describe a character as much as a specific speed.

→ Set your tempo in the Metronome