Tempo Markings (Italian Terms)
The Italian tempo terms and roughly how fast each one is in beats per minute — from Largo to Prestissimo. The vocabulary written at the top of a score.
| Marking | Meaning | Approx. BPM |
|---|---|---|
| Larghissimo | Extremely slow and broad | ≤ 24 |
| Grave | Very slow and solemn | 25–45 |
| Largo | Slow and broad | 40–60 |
| Lento | Slow | 45–60 |
| Adagio | Slow and expressive | 66–76 |
| Andante | At a walking pace | 76–108 |
| Moderato | At a moderate speed | 108–120 |
| Allegro | Fast and bright | 120–156 |
| Vivace | Lively and fast | 156–176 |
| Presto | Very fast | 168–200 |
| Prestissimo | As fast as possible | ≥ 200 |
BPM ranges are approximate and vary between sources and eras — the terms describe character as much as exact speed. Set a tempo and hear it with the metronome.
How to read this
Italian tempo terms predate the metronome and describe character as much as speed, which is why the BPM ranges here overlap and vary between sources.
Broadly: Largo and Adagio slow, Andante walking, Moderato moderate, Allegro fast, Presto very fast.
Notes & gotchas
- The ranges are conventions, not rules. Different editions and traditions disagree by 10–20 BPM on the same term.
- They describe feel too. Allegro means cheerful as much as quick; Grave means serious as well as slow.
- Metronome marks specify the beat unit. ♩ = 120 and ♪ = 120 are very different pieces.
- A tempo in 6/8 usually counts dotted quarters, not eighths — check before assuming a marking is twice what you expect.