Tempo Marking Guide
Complete reference for Italian tempo markings with BPM ranges, meanings, and character descriptions.
Tempo Markings
| Marking | BPM Range | Meaning | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grave | 20-40 | Very slow, solemn | Heavy, funeral-like |
| Largo | 40-60 | Broadly, very slow | Stately, dignified |
| Larghetto | 60-66 | Rather broadly | Slightly less slow than Largo |
| Adagio | 66-76 | Slowly, with ease | Expressive, lyrical |
| Andante | 76-108 | Walking pace | Moderate, flowing |
| Andantino | 80-108 | Slightly faster than Andante | Light walking pace |
| Moderato | 108-120 | Moderately | Neither fast nor slow |
| Allegretto | 112-120 | Moderately fast | Light, cheerful |
| Allegro | 120-156 | Fast, lively | Bright, energetic |
| Vivace | 156-176 | Lively, brisk | Quick and spirited |
| Presto | 168-200 | Very fast | Rapid, exciting |
| Prestissimo | 200+ | Extremely fast | As fast as possible |
Tempo Modifiers
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Accelerando (accel.) | Gradually getting faster |
| Ritardando (rit.) | Gradually getting slower |
| Rallentando (rall.) | Gradually getting slower (similar to rit.) |
| A tempo | Return to the original tempo |
| Rubato | Flexible tempo, expressively free |
| Molto | Very (e.g., Molto Allegro = Very fast) |
| Poco | A little (e.g., Poco Adagio = A little slow) |
| Assai | Very, enough (e.g., Allegro Assai) |
| Con moto | With motion |
| Ma non troppo | But not too much (e.g., Allegro ma non troppo) |
Why Italian?
Italian terms became the standard for musical directions because Italy was the center of European music during the Baroque period (1600-1750). Composers like Vivaldi, Corelli, and later Mozart standardized these terms, and they remain universal today regardless of the composer's nationality.