You’ll have heard the word used often in connection in music, and probably have some idea of what iot means. But what exactly do we mean when we talk about tempo in music?
What is tempo?
In music, tempo refers to the speed or pace at which a piece is played. As such, tempo is crucial to the overall feel and energy of a composition. Tempo really pins down the mood, the character, and the impact of a piece of music. So, composers have to make some essential decisions about tempo when creating their music – and performers – whether they are conductors, soloists, or orchestral performers – have to be clear on the desired tempo of that piece when they come to perform it.
How is tempo measured?
Tempo is usually measured in beats per minute, or BPM. The higher that BPM figure, the faster the music is played. Composers will often include some common tempo markings – such as Allegro (fast), Andante (moderate), or Adagio (slow) in order to guide musicians towards the ideal speed at which the music should be played. Tempo is key not only in classical music but also across genres like jazz, rock, electronic and even ambient music, where it helps to define a track’s rhythmic identity.
Different tempos can have a huge impact on how a piece sounds, or ‘feels’. A fast or slow tempo will add tension, drama, excitement… or tranquility and repose. Just think of the differing tempos (or tempi) for, say, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s ‘Flight of the Bumblebee’ and Chopin’s Funeral March.
Tempo shouldn’t be confused with a piece’s time signature, which indicates how many beats are included in a bar, whereas tempo indicates how fast or slow those beats should be.
Working from the slowest to the fastest, here’s a quick guide to the different tempos used in classical music and the typical BPM ranges they fall within on a metronome.
The different tempo speeds: bpm explained
Slow tempos: from Grave via Largo to Adagio
- Grave (very slowly and solemnly, 20-40 BPM). Example: Chopin, Piano Sonata No. 2 ‘Funeral March’, 1st mvt
- Lento (very slowly, 40-60 BPM). Example: Beethoven String Quartet No. 16, 3rd mvt
- Largo (slowly and broadly, 40-60 BPM). Example: Dvořák Symphony No. 9 ‘From the New World‘, 2nd mvt; Vaughan Williams, Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis
- Larghetto (fairly slow, 60-66 BPM). Example:
- Adagio (slowly, leisurely, 66-76 BPM). Example: Barber, Adagio for Strings; Mahler, Symphony No. 5, 4th mvt Adagietto (a fast Adagio)
Medium tempos: Andante, Moderato
- Moderato (moderate or medium, 108-120 BPM). Example: JS Bach: Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (cantata); Tchaikovsky Serenade for Strings, 2nd mvt
Fast tempos: Allegro to Prestissimo
- Vivace (lively, 156-168 BPM). Example (Allegro Vivace): Beethoven, Symphony No. 8, 1st mvt
- Presto (very fast, 168-200 BPM). Example: Mendelssohn, Symphony No. 4 ‘Italian’, 4th mvt Saltarello
- Prestissimo (even faster, 200-208 BPM). Example: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 5, Finale
Visit our musical terms dictionary to find out about other musical definitions you may not know.
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