Common Tempo Markings Explained

What Is a Tempo Marking?

A tempo marking tells you how fast or slow a piece of music should be performed. Tempo in music refers to the overall speed or pace of a song or piece, and tempo markings in music are used to indicate tempo through words, numbers, or both.

Tempo markings are part of musical notation and help performers understand how a piece should be played. They often appear at the beginning of a piece, but they can also appear later to signal a change in tempo.

Most commonly, tempo markings are written as words such as Allegro or Adagio, or as a numerical marking like 120 bpm. In many cases, composers include both.

How Tempo Is Indicated in Music

Tempo is often communicated in two ways... descriptive terms and metronome markings. Descriptive terms are musical terms that convey speed, character, or mood. Metronome markings tell you exactly how many beats are played per minute.

For example, a tempo of 120 beats per minute means there are two beats every second. In common time, this usually means the quarter note is played at a tempo of 120 beats per.

These markings are often used to indicate how a piece should be played, but they still leave room for musical judgment, especially in classical music.

A Brief History of Tempo Markings and the Metronome

Before modern electronics, tempo was communicated almost entirely through words. Traditional Italian markings became the standard because Italian composers dominated European music during the Baroque and Classical periods.

Tempo markings became increasingly popular during the first half of the 19th century, when composers began adding numerical tempo indications. This shift was made possible by the invention of the metronome.

Johann Nepomuk Maelzel is credited with popularizing the device, though he did not invent the metronome entirely on his own. Still, his version spread quickly, and metronome markings became increasingly popular during the first half of the 19th century.

By the second movement of many Romantic-era works, composers often specified tempo very precisely to shape musical contrast.

Italian Tempo Markings and Their Meaning

Italian tempo markings remain the most common and are still widely used in music today. These traditional Italian markings describe both speed and character, creating a combined tempo and mood.

For example, Allegro means fast, but it also suggests brightness and energy. Moderato tempo indicates a moderate speed that feels controlled and calm.

Additional Italian words also indicate nuance. Terms like non troppo mean “not too much” and are often used to prevent performers from taking the tempo to an extreme.

Below is a list of common tempo markings used in music.

Italian Tempo Markings

Slow Tempo Markings

Moderate Tempo Markings

Fast Tempo Markings

Tempo Markings in Other Languages

Although Italian tempo markings dominate, composers sometimes use other languages.

German tempo markings appear frequently in Romantic and later works. German tempo markings such as Langsam or Schnell often focus more on character than exact speed.

German Tempo Markings

• Kräftig - vigorous or powerful  
• Langsam - slow  
• Etwas breit - somewhat broad  
• Lebhaft - lively  
• Mäßig - moderate  
• Rasch - quick  
• Schnell - fast  
• Bewegt - animated, with motion 

French markings also appear, especially in impressionist music, where mood indication is especially important.

French Tempo Markings

• Au mouvement - return to the main tempo  
• Grave - slow and solemn  
• Largement - broad and slow  
• Lento - slow  
• Modéré - moderate  
• Rapide - fast  
• Vif - lively  
• Vite - fast  

These tempo words are all terms in music that help performers interpret speed or feeling.

Tempo Changes Within a Piece

Music can also include instructions for speeding up or slowing down as the piece unfolds. These instructions describe a tempo change rather than a fixed speed.

Common examples include accelerando, ritardando, and rallentando. Each describes a different type of change in tempo.

• Accelerando - gradually speeding up  
• Allargando - broader and slower  
• Calando - slowing and softening  
• Doppio movimento - double speed  
• Doppio più lento - half speed  
• Lentando - gradually slowing  
• Meno mosso - less movement  
• Più mosso - more movement  
• Precipitando - rushing forward  
• Rallentando (rall.) - gradually slowing  
• Ritardando (rit.) - gradually slowing  
• Ritenuto - suddenly slower  
• Rubato -flexible tempo for expression  
• Stringendo - pressing faster  
• Tardando - slowing down  
• Tempo giusto - strict tempo  
• Tempo primo - return to the original tempo  

A conductor may take the tempo slightly differently depending on acoustics, ensemble size, or expressive intent, especially when managing a steady tempo across a large group.

Using a Metronome to Understand Tempo

One of the best ways to internalize tempo is by using a metronome. An online metronome makes this especially convenient, since it’s always accessible and easy to adjust.

Using a metronome helps students experience basic tempo and learn how different tempo feels in the body. Practicing tempo slowly and gradually increasing speed builds control and confidence.

When practicing tempo, start well below the target speed. If the tempo marking is Allegro at 120 bpm, begin closer to 90 bpm and work up in small increments.

This approach helps ensure that technique remains relaxed and accurate.

Why Tempo Matters

Tempo is not just about fast or slow. It shapes expression, energy, and clarity. A different tempo can completely change how a passage feels, even if the notes remain the same.

Tempo is often the foundation on which rhythm, articulation, and phrasing are built. Understanding tempo allows musicians to make better interpretive decisions and perform more convincingly.

Whether you are reading tempo markings used in music from the Baroque and Classical eras or modern compositions, understanding how tempo works is essential to musical growth.