Learn to read music

Tempo markings, from Largo to Presto

A tempo marking is the word above the first bar that says how fast a piece goes, in Italian: from Largo, very slow, to Presto, very fast. Of the 341 pieces in Clefsight's library, 130 open with one of the nine below; the commonest is Allegro, in 41, and 80 also print a metronome mark that says exactly how fast.

The words describe a character as much as a speed, so the marks printed in real pieces spread well outside the quoted ranges, and a study's allegro can sit far under a concert one. A mark also counts whichever note the composer or editor chose as the beat, so a quick piece in 3/8 counted one beat to the bar shows a small number.

The tempo words, slowest first

• Largobroad, very slow

  The slowest common marking: wide, unhurried, every note given its full weight. Lento and grave are near it. Usually quoted as about 40 to 60 beats a minute.

  In the library: 2 pieces open with it, printed between 30 and 50 a minute where a mark is given. The easiest:

  • Prelude in E minor, Op. 28 No. 4 (Chopin, level 4): Largo, quarter = 50
  • Prelude in C minor, Op. 28 No. 20 (Chopin, level 5): Largo, quarter = 30

• Adagioslow, at ease

  Slow, at ease. Adagio pieces breathe; the long notes need holding through. Usually quoted as about 66 to 76 beats a minute.

  In the library: 2 pieces open with it, printed at 76 a minute. The easiest:

  • Nocturne No. 10 (Field, level 4): Adagio, quarter = 76
  • Invention No. 2 in C minor, BWV 773 (Bach, level 4): Adagio

• Andanteat a walking pace

  At a walking pace: moving, never dragging. Think of a steady stroll. Usually quoted as about 76 to 108 beats a minute.

  In the library: 14 pieces open with it, printed between 80 and 175 a minute where a mark is given. The easiest:

  • Andante in F, Op. 82 (Gurlitt, level 2): Andante, quarter = 175
  • Elementary Study, Op. 176 No. 6 (Duvernoy, level 3): Andante, quarter = 88
  • Minuet in F, K. 1d (Mozart, level 3): Andante
  • Wiegenlied (Lullaby) (Flies, level 3): Andante, quarter = 80
  • Sonatina in C, Op. 36 No. 1: II (Clementi, level 3): Andante

  and 9 more.

• Andantinoa little faster than andante

  A little faster than andante, usually; some older editions meant a little slower, so the mark or the music decides. Usually quoted as about 80 to 108 beats a minute.

  In the library: 13 pieces open with it, printed between 66 and 142 a minute where a mark is given. The easiest:

  • Elementary Study, Op. 176 No. 10 (Duvernoy, level 3): Andantino, quarter = 88
  • Pastorale, Op. 100 No. 3 (Burgmüller, level 3): Andantino, quarter = 66
  • Short Exercise, Op. 821 No. 5 (Czerny, level 3): Andantino espressivo, quarter = 120
  • Elementary Study, Op. 176 No. 19 (Duvernoy, level 3): Andantino
  • Elementary Study, Op. 176 No. 15 (Duvernoy, level 3): Andantino

  and 8 more.

• Moderatomoderate

  Neither fast nor slow. Often joined to another word: allegro moderato is a held-back allegro. Usually quoted as about 108 to 120 beats a minute.

  In the library: 21 pieces open with it, printed between 48 and 158 a minute where a mark is given. The easiest:

  • Old German Dance (Praetorius, level 2): Moderato
  • Elementary Study, Op. 176 No. 3 (Duvernoy, level 2): Moderato, quarter = 100
  • The Blue Danube (theme) (Strauss, level 2): Moderato, quarter = 102
  • We Wish You a Merry Christmas (Traditional, level 2): Moderato
  • Elementary Study, Op. 176 No. 2 (Duvernoy, level 2): Moderato, quarter = 100

  and 16 more.

• Allegrettofairly quick, lightly

  Fairly quick and light, a little under allegro. Common in minuets and dances. Usually quoted as about 112 to 120 beats a minute.

  In the library: 30 pieces open with it, printed between 86 and 140 a minute where a mark is given. The easiest:

  • Carousel Waltz (Gobbaerts, level 2): Allegretto
  • Minuet in G, BWV Anh. 114 (Petzold, level 3): Allegretto, quarter = 115
  • Santa Lucia (Neapolitan air) (Czerny, level 3): Allegretto
  • Study in Thirds (Czerny, level 3): Allegretto
  • Elementary Study, Op. 176 No. 18 (Duvernoy, level 3): Allegretto

  and 25 more.

• Allegroquick and bright

  Quick and bright: the most common fast marking, and the usual first movement of a sonatina. Usually quoted as about 120 to 156 beats a minute.

  In the library: 41 pieces open with it, printed between 26 and 180 a minute where a mark is given. The easiest:

  • Elementary Study, Op. 176 No. 1 (Duvernoy, level 2): Allegro moderato, quarter = 100
  • Children's Study, Op. 37 No. 2 (Lemoine, level 2): Allegro, quarter = 180
  • Elementary Study, Op. 176 No. 5 (Duvernoy, level 3): Allegro moderato, quarter = 100
  • Elementary Study, Op. 176 No. 9 (Duvernoy, level 3): Allegro moderato, quarter = 100
  • Tedesca (Haydn, level 3): Allegro

  and 36 more.

• Vivacelively

  Lively, with spirit; usually a little faster than allegro. Usually quoted as about 156 to 176 beats a minute.

  In the library: 5 pieces open with it, printed between 90 and 100 a minute where a mark is given. The easiest:

  • Air from Little Russia, Op. 107 No. 3 (Beethoven, level 2): Vivace
  • Sonatina in C, Op. 36 No. 1: III (Clementi, level 3): Vivace
  • Short Exercise, Op. 821 No. 4 (Czerny, level 3): Vivace, dotted quarter = 90
  • Short Exercise, Op. 821 No. 9 (Czerny, level 3): Vivace, dotted quarter = 100
  • Waltz, Op. 32 No. 1 (Czerny, level 3): Vivace

• Prestovery fast

  Very fast. Prestissimo is faster still. Usually quoted as about 168 to 200 beats a minute.

  In the library: 2 pieces open with it, printed at 112 a minute. The easiest:

  • Sonata in E minor, Hob. XVI:34: I (Haydn, level 4): Presto
  • Étude in F minor, Op. 25 No. 2 (Chopin, level 5): Presto, half = 112

Words that change them

Tempo words rarely stand alone. Small Italian words in front or behind shade them, and a character word often follows: Allegro ma non troppo is quick but not too quick, Andante cantabile a walking pace, singing.

Metronome marks

A metronome mark such as ♩ = 96 means 96 quarter-note beats a minute: set a metronome to 96 and each click is a quarter note. In 6/8 the beat is usually a dotted quarter (♩. = 60), and in 2/2 a half note. Older editions write M.M. before the number, for Maelzel's metronome. Where a piece has both, the word gives the character and the number the speed; where it has only a word, the ranges above are a starting point, and the music decides.

Under the tempo, the speed can change on the way: rit. and rall. slow down, accel. speeds up, and a tempo goes back.

More on the page: music symbols and what they mean, and time signatures for which note is the beat.