Tempo Marking Overview
Slow
Largo, Lento, Grave, Adagio
24 - 69 BPM
Moderate
Andante, Moderato, Allegretto
70 - 109 BPM
Fast
Allegro, Vivace
110 - 176 BPM
Very Fast
Presto, Prestissimo
168+ BPM
All Tempo Markings - BPM Reference
| Marking | BPM Range | Italian Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Larghissimo | < 24 | Extremely slow, broad |
| Largo | 24 - 40 | Broad, very slow |
| Larghetto | 40 - 60 | Rather broad, slightly faster than Largo |
| Lento | 40 - 60 | Slow |
| Grave | 25 - 45 | Slow and solemn |
| Adagio | 55 - 65 | Slowly, at ease |
| Adagietto | 65 - 69 | Slightly faster than Adagio |
| Andante | 72 - 76 | At a walking pace |
| Andantino | 74 - 80 | Slightly faster than Andante |
| Moderato | 86 - 97 | Moderate speed |
| Allegretto | 98 - 109 | Fairly fast, lively but lighter than Allegro |
| Allegro | 120 - 156 | Fast, lively, cheerful |
| Vivace | 156 - 176 | Lively and fast |
| Vivacissimo | 172 - 176 | Very lively and fast |
| Presto | 168 - 200 | Very fast |
| Prestissimo | > 200 | As fast as possible |
Tempo Markings - Detailed Guide
Larghissimo
Extremely slow, broad
< 24
BPM
Feel: Almost static, ceremonial, rare in modern music
Genres: Funeral music, avant-garde classical, ambient
Producer tip:Rarely used outside formal classical. In production, this feels closer to ambient texture than rhythm.
Largo
Broad, very slow
24 - 40
BPM
Feel: Heavy, dignified, solemn
Genres: Classical, hymns, film score (solemn/tragic scenes)
Producer tip:Dvorak's New World Symphony slow movement. Beethoven's Sonata Pathetique. Used in epic film score moments.
Larghetto
Rather broad, slightly faster than Largo
40 - 60
BPM
Feel: Dignified but moving forward slowly
Genres: Classical, some hymns
Producer tip:Slightly lighter than Largo. Rare in modern production but useful context for very slow intros.
Lento
Slow
40 - 60
BPM
Feel: Thoughtful, tender, introspective
Genres: Classical, slow jazz ballads, lo-fi
Producer tip:The slow end of jazz ballads lives here. Lo-fi tracks at 55-60 BPM feel contemplative.
Grave
Slow and solemn
25 - 45
BPM
Feel: Heavy, serious, weighty
Genres: Classical, film score (tragedy)
Producer tip:More expressive than tempo - implies emotional weight. Like Largo but darker in character.
Adagio
Slowly, at ease
55 - 65
BPM
Feel: Flowing, lyrical, gentle
Genres: Classical, R&B ballads, soul
Producer tip:Barber's Adagio for Strings is the iconic example. R&B love songs often sit at this tempo.
Adagietto
Slightly faster than Adagio
65 - 69
BPM
Feel: Gentle, wistful
Genres: Classical, some film scores
Producer tip:Mahler's 5th Symphony Adagietto. Slightly more movement than Adagio.
Andante
At a walking pace
72 - 76
BPM
Feel: Natural, comfortable, steady
Genres: Pop ballads, neo-soul, bedroom pop
Producer tip:The "natural walking pace" tempo. Many pop songs from the 60s-80s sit here. Feels conversational.
Andantino
Slightly faster than Andante
74 - 80
BPM
Feel: Light, flowing, easy
Genres: Pop, folk, singer-songwriter
Producer tip:A comfortable mid-slow tempo. Singer-songwriter acoustic songs often land here.
Moderato
Moderate speed
86 - 97
BPM
Feel: Steady, comfortable, versatile
Genres: Pop, R&B, folk, country
Producer tip:The center of the tempo spectrum. Radio pop hits frequently cluster around 90-95 BPM. R&B grooves work well here.
Allegretto
Fairly fast, lively but lighter than Allegro
98 - 109
BPM
Feel: Light, cheerful, bouncy
Genres: Pop, upbeat indie, some hip-hop
Producer tip:Hip-hop often sits at 90-100 BPM (or 180-200 BPM counted in double-time). 100-105 feels natural for many modern pop songs.
Allegro
Fast, lively, cheerful
120 - 156
BPM
Feel: Energetic, driving, upbeat
Genres: House, dance-pop, funk, many classical movements
Producer tip:128 BPM (the EDM standard) is solidly Allegro. House, techno, and dance-pop all live in this range.
Vivace
Lively and fast
156 - 176
BPM
Feel: Bright, spirited, exciting
Genres: Techno, drum and bass (half-time feel), uptempo electronic
Producer tip:The faster end of techno (150-170 BPM) overlaps here. DnB at 160-175 BPM.
Vivacissimo
Very lively and fast
172 - 176
BPM
Feel: Extremely energetic
Genres: Uptempo electronic, some classical
Producer tip:Overlaps with the top of drum and bass range. Rarely used as an isolated marking in practice.
Presto
Very fast
168 - 200
BPM
Feel: Rapid, urgent, intense
Genres: Drum and bass, hardcore, metal, some classical
Producer tip:DnB sits at 170-180 BPM. Hardcore/psytrance at 180-200 BPM. Classical finales (Beethoven, Scarlatti) use Presto extensively.
Prestissimo
As fast as possible
> 200
BPM
Feel: Extreme, frantic, at the limit
Genres: Hardstyle, speedcore, extreme metal, some Baroque virtuoso pieces
Producer tip:Above 200 BPM. Hardstyle lives at 150 BPM but counted in straight 4/4 (each kick = one beat at 150). True 200+ BPM is rare outside speedcore and Baroque violin showpieces.
Modern Music Genres and Their Tempo Markings
Classical tempo markings were not designed for modern music, but they map naturally to today's genres.
| Genre | Typical BPM | Tempo Marking |
|---|---|---|
| Chill lo-fi / Bedroom pop | 60 - 80 | Adagio to Andante |
| Soul / R&B ballads | 60 - 80 | Adagio to Andante |
| Hip-hop (boom bap) | 85 - 95 | Moderato |
| Pop / Rock | 90 - 110 | Moderato to Allegretto |
| Trap (counted at half-time) | 130 - 160 (65 - 80 feel) | Allegro half-time |
| House / Deep house | 120 - 130 | Allegro |
| Disco / Nu-disco | 115 - 128 | Allegro |
| Techno | 130 - 150 | Allegro to Vivace |
| Drum and bass / Jungle | 160 - 180 | Vivace to Presto |
| Hardcore / Happy hardcore | 160 - 200 | Presto |
| Hardstyle | 140 - 160 (150 typical) | Vivace |
| Jazz standards | 60 - 200 (wide range) | Adagio to Presto |
Why Tempo Markings Matter for Producers
Understanding Sample Keys
When you find a sample, you often need to match both the BPM and the key. Tempo markings help classify the "feel" of a sample quickly so you can decide if it fits your track's energy level before you even analyze it technically.
Scoring and Composition
If you are scoring for film, TV, or sync licensing, knowing tempo markings helps you communicate with directors and music supervisors. "Give me something Andante" is clearer than "around 72-76 BPM" in a creative brief.
Practice and Performance
When learning a piece, tempo markings tell you the intended feel, not just the metronome speed. A piece marked Allegretto should feel light and cheerful, not just mechanically fast.
DAW and Metronome Setup
When setting up your DAW project or metronome, knowing that "house music is Allegro" or "your hip-hop groove is Moderato" helps you pick a BPM that feels right before you start layering sounds. Then verify the exact BPM with BeatKey.
Italian Tempo Modifiers
These suffixes and prefixes modify the base tempo marking. They appear on sheet music and in classical scores.
| Modifier | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -issimo | Extremely (superlative) | Prestissimo = as fast as possible |
| -etto | Slightly (diminutive) | Allegretto = slightly fast |
| -ino | Small/slight (diminutive) | Andantino = slightly faster than Andante |
| Molto | Very much | Molto Allegro = very fast |
| Poco | A little | Poco Adagio = a little slow |
| Non troppo | Not too much | Allegro non troppo = fast but not too fast |
| Ma non troppo | But not too much | Presto ma non troppo = fast but not excessive |
| Assai | Very, quite | Allegro assai = quite fast |
Tempo Markings - Frequently Asked Questions
What is Allegro in BPM?
Allegro means "fast and lively" in Italian and corresponds to approximately 120 to 156 BPM. Most house music and dance-pop (including the standard 128 BPM EDM tempo) is Allegro. Beethoven and Mozart used Allegro for energetic, bright movements.
What does Andante mean in BPM?
Andante means "at a walking pace" and corresponds to approximately 72 to 76 BPM. It describes a natural, comfortable, steady tempo. Many pop ballads from the 1960s through 1980s use Andante tempos. Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 16 (the "easy" sonata) is Andante.
What is the difference between Andante and Moderato?
Andante (72-76 BPM) is slower, like a natural walking pace. Moderato (86-97 BPM) is faster, meaning "moderate speed." Both are in the mid-tempo range, with Moderato feeling more driven and Andante feeling more relaxed. R&B grooves and hip-hop often sit in the Moderato range.
What tempo is Presto?
Presto means "very fast" and ranges from approximately 168 to 200 BPM. Drum and bass (170-180 BPM) and hardcore electronic music fall in the Presto range. In classical music, Presto is used for rapid finales and virtuoso passages like Liszt's piano works and Scarlatti's keyboard sonatas.
Use BeatKey's Free Metronome
Now that you know the tempo markings, practice at the right BPM with BeatKey's free online metronome. Tap tempo, genre BPM presets, and time signature selector included.