Tempo Notation
Tempo markings indicate how fast or slow music should be played. Traditionally Italian words have been used to indicate tempo, but composers can also use words in their own language to tell performers how fast or slow to play or sing.
| Common terms include: | ||
| Grave | solemn; very, very slow | |
| Largo | broad; very slow | |
| Adagio | quite slow | |
| Andante | a walking pace | |
| Moderato | moderate | |
| Allegro | fast; cheerful | |
| Vivace | lively | |
| Presto | very fast | |
| The following terms indicate that the tempo should change: | ||
| Accelerando | getting faster | |
| Ritardando | getting slower | |
| A tempo | in time; returning to the original pace | |
This area of notation can be very imprecise and open to performer interpretation, e.g. just how fast is allegro.
For more precise indications of tempo, composers can place a metronome mark in the music. The metronome is a mechanical or electronic device which can be set to click or flash a specified number of times per minute.
For example, the metronome mark,
=
120, would indicate that the piece should be played at the tempo of 120 beats
per minute. (Try out an
online
metronome to see how an electronic metronome works.)
To hear musical examples of how the above tempo marks are used, check the Materials of Music section of the Online Tutor. (See Tempo in the Rhythm section.)