Tempo is the speed of the beat in music, and you show it with Italian words like largo, adagio, andante, allegro, and presto, or with a metronome marking such as quarter note = 88. You also need terms that change the prevailing tempo: accelerando speeds up, ritardando slows down gradually, ritenuto slows down abruptly, and rubato allows flexible timing.
Why This Matters for the AP Music Theory Exam
Tempo is one of the expressive elements you have to identify in both performed and notated music, so it shows up in listening and score-reading tasks. When you read or hear a passage, you should be able to name the tempo marking, recognize a metronome marking, and spot directions that adjust the speed.
You will only be asked the specific meanings of the Italian terms listed for this topic, but you should know that composers across many traditions and languages use other tempo words too. In sight-singing tasks, melodies usually come with a moderate tempo such as moderato, and you are expected to hold a steady speed unless the notation tells you to change it.
Key Takeaways
- Tempo describes the relative speed of the beat pulse and is set with words or a metronome marking.
- Italian tempo words run from very slow (grave) through slow, moderate, and fast (presto, prestissimo), but the ranges overlap and are approximate.
- A metronome marking names a beat-note and beats per minute, such as quarter note = 88.
- Tempo markings are usually placed at the start of a movement or section.
- Learn the change-of-tempo terms: accelerando (speed up), ritardando (slow down gradually), ritenuto (slow down abruptly), and rubato (flexible timing).
- You only need the meanings of the Italian terms in this topic, but stay aware that other languages are used in real scores.
Tempo Basics
Tempo tells you how fast or slow the beat moves. It sets the mood of a piece, and the same notes can feel calm or urgent depending on the tempo.
There are two main ways a score shows tempo:
- A tempo word, usually in Italian, placed at the start of a movement or section.
- A metronome marking, which pairs a beat-note with a number of beats per minute. For example, quarter note = 60 means the quarter note gets 60 beats per minute.
The Italian tradition gives us the standard words, but composers also write tempo and expression markings in German, French, and English. Performers are responsible for knowing what each marking means no matter the language.
Italian Tempo Words
These are the Italian terms you need for AP Music Theory, grouped from slow to fast. The beats-per-minute numbers below are rough guides, not strict rules. Ranges overlap, and the words really describe a feeling or character as much as a speed.
| Grouping | Term | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Very slow | grave | very slow and solemn |
| Slow | largo | broad |
| Slow | lento | slow |
| Very slow / slow | larghetto | rather broad, slightly faster than largo; often grouped near the slow end |
| Slow and stately | adagio | slow, at ease |
| Moderately slow | andante | walking pace |
| Moderately slow | andantino | slightly faster walking pace |
| Moderate | moderato | moderate |
| Faster | allegretto | moderately fast |
| Faster | allegro | fast and bright |
| Faster | vivace | lively and fast |
| Fast | presto | very fast |
| Fast | prestissimo | even faster than presto |
A few cautions on grouping:
- Grave is very slow. Largo, lento, and larghetto are slow terms whose usage overlaps, so do not treat them as one exact speed.
- Larghetto is generally a bit faster than largo, but the difference is about character, not a fixed number.
- Because the ranges overlap, focus on the meaning and feel of each word rather than memorizing exact bpm values.
Knowing the literal translations helps. Grave relates to "serious," and allegro relates to "cheerful." If you are unsure of a marking, the mood and energy of the music can point you toward the right word.
Keep in mind that bpm alone does not always match the feeling of speed, because beat divisions matter. A piece marked presto can have a moderate metronome number if the beat is subdivided heavily.
Changes in Tempo
Some markings adjust the prevailing tempo rather than set it. For AP Music Theory you should know:
- accelerando: gradually speed up
- ritardando: gradually slow down
- ritenuto: slow down abruptly
- rubato: general freedom with the tempo
Ritardando is the gradual slowdown you often see at the end of a phrase or section. In scores it is usually written "rit." and may be followed by a dotted line that shows how long the change lasts. The exact amount of slowing is left to the performer's judgment, guided by the phrase and where it sits in the piece.
Ritenuto means slowing down abruptly. It is also commonly abbreviated "rit.," so you usually rely on context to tell ritenuto from ritardando.
Accelerando, abbreviated "accel.," tells you to gradually increase the speed. It can stretch over many measures or happen in just a measure or two.
Rubato literally means "stolen time." It is a give-and-take of tempo for expressive purposes, speeding up and slowing down slightly while keeping the overall flow. It shows up most in solo and vocal music and should be used tastefully.
You may also see "poco a poco," meaning "little by little," attached to a tempo change.
How to Use This on the AP Music Theory Exam
Listening
When you hear an excerpt, judge the relative speed first, then match it to a tempo word. Pay attention to whether the beat is steady or whether it speeds up (accelerando) or slows down (ritardando). Watch for beat divisions, since a fast-sounding passage might have a moderate bpm.
Score Reading
Look at the start of the movement or section for the tempo word or metronome marking. Read a metronome marking as beat-note plus beats per minute, like quarter note = 88. Spot any change-of-tempo terms in the music and know what they direct the performer to do.
Sight-Singing
Sight-singing melodies usually carry a moderate marking such as moderato. Hold a steady tempo from start to finish and avoid hesitations or restarts. Do not change speed unless the notation specifically tells you to.
Common Trap
Ritardando and ritenuto can both appear as "rit." Use context and any dotted line to decide whether the slowdown is gradual or abrupt.
Common Misconceptions
- Tempo bpm ranges are not exact rules. The numbers overlap, so treat tempo words as character and relative speed, not fixed measurements.
- Grave, largo, lento, and larghetto are not the same speed. Grave is very slow, while largo, lento, and larghetto sit near the slow end with overlapping usage.
- A higher metronome number does not always mean it sounds faster. The amount of beat division affects how fast the music feels.
- A tempo word is not the only way to set speed. A metronome marking can set tempo on its own.
- You are only responsible for the specific Italian terms in this topic, but real scores use other languages, so do not assume every marking will be Italian.
- "rit." can mean ritardando or ritenuto, so do not assume it always means a gradual slowdown.
Related AP Music Theory Guides
Vocabulary
The following words are mentioned explicitly in the College Board Course and Exam Description for this topic.Term | Definition |
|---|---|
accelerando | A direction to gradually increase the speed of the music. |
adagio | A slow tempo marking. |
allegretto | A faster tempo marking, moderately fast. |
allegro | A fast tempo marking. |
andante | A moderately slow tempo marking, at a walking pace. |
andantino | A moderately slow tempo marking, slightly faster than andante. |
grave | A very slow tempo marking, often with a serious or solemn character. |
larghetto | A very slow tempo marking, slightly faster than largo. |
largo | A very slow tempo marking. |
lento | A slow tempo marking. |
metronome marking | A notation indicating a specific note value as the beat-note and the number of beats per minute, such as quarter note = 88. |
moderato | A moderate tempo marking. |
prestissimo | An extremely fast tempo marking, faster than presto. |
presto | A very fast tempo marking. |
ritardando | A direction to gradually slow down the music. |
ritenuto | A direction to abruptly slow down the music. |
rubato | A term indicating general freedom with respect to tempo, allowing for expressive flexibility. |
tempo | The speed at which music is performed, indicated by markings such as moderato or allegro. |
vivace | A fast tempo marking with a lively character. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is tempo in music theory?
Tempo is the relative speed of the beat pulse in music. It can be shown with tempo words, such as adagio or allegro, or with a metronome marking such as quarter note = 88.
What does allegro mean?
Allegro means fast and bright. In AP Music Theory, it is one of the faster Italian tempo markings you should recognize.
What is the difference between allegro and allegretto?
Allegro is fast and bright, while allegretto is moderately fast and usually a little slower or lighter than allegro.
What does adagio mean?
Adagio means slow and at ease. It is a slow tempo marking, but not necessarily the slowest marking on the AP Music Theory list.
What does accelerando mean?
Accelerando means to gradually speed up. It is a direction that changes the prevailing tempo rather than setting a new starting tempo by itself.
What is a metronome marking?
A metronome marking gives a beat-note and a number of beats per minute, such as quarter note = 88. It tells performers the exact tempo more precisely than a word alone.