Basic tempo markings

By adding an -issimo ending the word is amplified/made louder, by adding an -ino or -etto ending the word is diminished/made softer. The metronome marks are broad approximations. Note:Metronome markings are a guide only and depending on the time signature and the piece itself, these figures may not be appropriate in every circumstance. Also, in longer pieces such as symphony movements, the tempo marking used by the composer for the movement does not have to be adhered to strictly throughout the movement; individual interpreters may vary the tempo at times, at their discretion. Slow: Larghissimo very, very slow (19 BPM and under) Grave slow and solemn (2040 BPM) Lento slowly (4045 BPM) Largo broadly (4550 BPM) Larghetto rather broadly (5055 BPM) Adagio slow and stately (literally, "at ease") (5565 BPM) Adagietto rather slow (6569 BPM) Andante moderato a bit slower than andante (69-72 BPM) Andante at a walking pace (7377 BPM) Andantino slightly faster than andante (although in some cases it can be taken to mean slightly slower than andante) (78-83 BPM) Marcia moderato moderately, in the manner of a march Moderato moderately (8697 BPM)
[4][5]

(83-85 BPM)

Fast: Allegretto moderately fast (98109 BPM) Allegro fast, quickly and bright (109132 BPM) Vivace lively and fast (132-140 BPM) (quicker than allegro) Vivacissimo very fast and lively (140-150 BPM) Allegrissimo very fast (150-167 BPM) Presto very fast (168177 BPM) Prestissimo extremely fast (178 BPM and over)

Additional terms
A piacere the performer may use their own discretion with regard to tempo and rhythm; literally [6] "at pleasure" L'istesso tempo or Lo stesso tempo at the same speed Tempo comodo at a comfortable (normal) speed Tempo di... the speed of a ... (such as Tempo di valse (speed of a waltz, 60 bpm), Tempo di marcia (speed of a march, 120 bpm)) Tempo giusto at a consistent speed, at the 'right' speed, in strict tempo Tempo semplice simple, regular speed, plainly

Common qualifiers
alla in the manner or style of, as in: alla breve in short style, i.e., duple time, with the half note (minim) rather than the quarter note (crotchet) as the beat; cut time; 2/2 instead of 4/4; often marked as a semicircle with a vertical line through it (see Time signature) alla marcia in the manner of a march all' ongarese in Hungarian style alla (danza) tedesca in the style of the Lndler (c. 1800), and similar dances in rather quick triple meter (see Beethoven, op. 79, op. 130)
[8] [7]

(e.g., Beethoven, op. 101)

alla turca in the Turkish style, that is, in imitation of Turkish military music (Janizary music), which became popular in Europe in the late 18th century (e.g., Mozart, K. 331, K. 384)

alla zingarese in the style of Gypsy music

[9]

assai very much, as in allegro assai, quite fast con bravura with skill con fuoco with fire con moto with motion deciso decidedly, decisively
[10] [11]

ben well, as in ben marcato (well marked or accented) con brio with vigor and spirit

fugato in fugal style, usually part of a non-fugal composition; such passages often occur in [12] the development sections of symphonies, sonatas, and quartets in modo in the manner of, in the style of: in modo napolitano (in Neapolitan style), in modo di marcia funebre (in the manner of a funeral march) meno less, as in meno mosso (less quickly) misterioso mysterious molto much, very, as in molto allegro (very quick) or molto adagio (very slow)
[14] [13]

appena almost none, as in appena forte (almost not at all loud)

non troppo not too much, e.g. allegro non troppo (or allegro ma non troppo) means "fast, but not too much" non tanto not so much pi more, as in pi allegro (more quickly); used as a relative indication when the tempo changes piuttosto rather, as in piuttosto allegro (rather quick) poco slightly, little, as in Poco adagio poco a poco little by little polacca generic name for Polish dances, usually the polonaise, as in tempo di polacca; note, however, that the "Polacca" in Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 shows little resemblance to [16] the polonaise primo principal or early, as in tempo primo, the same tempo as at the beginning quasi almost, nearly, as if (such as Pi allegro quasi presto, "faster, as if presto")
[15]

senza without, as in senza interruzione (without interruption or pause), senza tempo or senza [17] misura (without strict measure) sostenuto sustained, prolonged subito suddenly

Note: In addition to the common allegretto, composers freely apply Italian diminutive and superlative suffixes to various tempo indications: andantino, larghetto, adagietto, and larghissimo.

Mood markings with a tempo connotation

Some markings that primarily mark a mood (or character) also have a tempo connotation: Affettuoso with feeling/emotion Agitato agitated, with implied quickness Appassionato to play passionately Animato animatedly, lively Brillante sparkling, glittering, as in Allegro brillante, Rondo brillante, or Variations brillantes; [18] became fashionable in titles for virtuoso pieces Bravura broadly Cantabile in singing style (lyrical and flowing) Dolce sweetly Energico energetic, strong, forceful Eroico heroically Espressivo expressively Furioso to play in an angry or furious manner Giocoso merrily, funny Gioioso joyfully Grandioso magnificently, grandly Grazioso gracefully Lacrimoso tearfully, sadly Lamentoso lamenting, mournfully Leggiero to play lightly, or with light touch Leggiadro lightly and gracefully Maestoso majestic or stately (which generally indicates a solemn, slow march-like movement) Malinconico melancholic Marcato marching tempo, marked with emphasis Marziale in a march style, usually in simple, strongly marked rhythm and regular phrases Mesto sad, mournful Misterioso mystical, in a shady manner Morendo dying Nobilmente nobly (in a noble way) Patetico with great emotion Pesante heavily Saltando jumpy, fast, and short Scherzando playfully

Sostenuto sustained, sometimes with a slackening of tempo Spiccato slow sautill, with a bouncy manner Tenerezza tenderness Tranquillamente adverb of tranquillo, "calmly" Trionfante triumphantly Vivace lively and fast, over 140 BPM (which generally indicates a fast movement)

Terms for change in tempo

Composers may use expressive marks to adjust the tempo: Accelerando speeding up (abbreviation: accel.) Allargando growing broader; decreasing tempo, usually near the end of a piece Calando going slower (and usually also softer) Doppio movimento / doppio pi mosso double speed Doppio pi lento half speed Lentando gradual slowing and softer Meno mosso less movement or slower Mosso movement, more lively, or quicker, much like pi mosso, but not as extreme Pi mosso more movement or faster Precipitando hurrying, going faster/forward Rallentando gradual slowing down (abbreviation: rall.) Ritardando slowing down gradually; also see rallentando and ritenuto (abbreviations: rit., ritard.) Ritenuto slightly slower; temporarily holding back. (Note that the abbreviation for ritenuto can also be rit. Thus a more specific abbreviation is riten. Also sometimes ritenuto does not reflect a tempo change but a character change instead.) Rubato free adjustment of tempo for expressive purposes Stretto in faster tempo, often near the conclusion of a section. (Note that in fugal compositions, the term stretto refers to the imitation of the subject in close succession, before the subject is [19] completed, and as such, suitable for the close of the fugue. Used in this context, the term is not necessarily related to tempo.) Stringendo pressing on faster (literally "tightening")

While the base tempo indication (such as allegro) appears in large type above the staff, these adjustments typically appear below the staff or (in the case of keyboard instruments) in the middle of the grand staff. They generally designate a gradual change in tempo; for immediate tempo shifts, composers normally just provide the designation for the new tempo. (Note, however, that when Pi Mosso orMeno Mosso appears in large type above the staff, it functions as a new tempo, and thus implies an immediate change.) Several terms, e.g., assai, molto, poco, subito, control how large and how gradual a change should be (see common qualifiers). After a tempo change, a composer may return to a previous tempo in two different ways: a tempo returns to the base tempo after an adjustment (e.g. "ritardando ... a tempo" undoes the effect of the ritardando).

Tempo primo or Tempo I denotes an immediate return to the piece's original base tempo after a section in a different tempo (e.g. "Allegro ... Lento ... Moderato .... Tempo I" indicates a return to the Allegro). This indication often functions as a structural marker in pieces in binary form.

These terms also indicate an immediate, not a gradual, tempo change. Although they are Italian, composers typically use them even if they have written their initial tempo marking in some other language.