What word starts with t is used to speed up or slow a song?
Tempo
Tempo is an Italian word at the beginning of a piece of music that indicates how slow or fast the music should be played in order to convey a feeling or set the mood.
What is fast and slow in music?
Largo—the most commonly indicated “slow” tempo (40–60 BPM) Allegretto—moderately fast (but less so than allegro) Allegro moderato—moderately quick (112–124 BPM) Allegro—perhaps the most frequently used tempo marking (120–168 BPM, which includes the “heartbeat tempo” sweet spot)
What is the word for fast tempo in music?
Allegro – fast, quickly and bright (109–132 BPM) Vivace – lively and fast (132–140 BPM) Presto – extremely fast (168–177 BPM) Prestissimo – even faster than Presto (178 BPM and over)
What is it called when a song is slowed down?
Rallentando – slowing down, normally for emphasis. Ritardando – slowing down, holding back. A tempo – return to the original tempo after speeding up or slowing down.
What is the fastest tempo marking?
Fast Tempo Markings
| Tempo Marking | Translation | Beats Per Minute |
|---|---|---|
| Allegro | Fast, quickly and bright | 120 – 156 bpm |
| Vivace | Briskly, Lively and fast | 156 – 176 bpm |
| Vivacissimo | Very fast and lively, faster than Vivace | 172 – 176 bpm |
| Allegrissimo or Allegro vivace | Very Fast | 172 – 176 bpm |
How many beats per minute is a song?
Happy lyrics, a fast tempo of 150 beats per minute (the average pop song has a tempo of 116 beats per minute), and a major third musical key all help create music we perceive as brimming with positive emotion.
Is tempo faster or slower?
In simple terms, tempo is how fast or slow a piece of music is performed, while rhythm is the placement of sounds in time, in a regular and repeated pattern. Tempo generally is measured as the number of beats per minute, where the beat is the basic measure of time in music.
Is Largo or Lento slower?
Largo – slow and broad (40–60 bpm) Lento – slow (45–60 bpm) Larghetto – rather slow and broad (60–66 bpm) Adagio – slow with great expression (66–76 bpm)
What are the 3 types of tempo?
Instrumental music with three kinds of tempo (fast tempo: >120 bpm, presto and allegro; medium tempo: 76–120 bpm, moderato and andante; and slow tempo: 60–76 bpm, adagio and larghetto) was selected by three music professors.
How do you describe fast tempo?
Allegro – fast, quick, and bright (120–156 bpm) (molto allegro is slightly faster than allegro, but always in its range; 124-156 bpm) Vivace – lively and fast (156–176 bpm) Vivacissimo – very fast and lively (172–176 bpm) Allegrissimo or Allegro vivace – very fast (172–176 bpm)
Why is chopped and screwed?
“DJ Screw would slow down all of the music and he would repeat certain beats and words and phrases,” says Grob. “The style became known as ‘chopped and screwed. ‘ Other Houston artists began using that style. People started releasing one album that was regular, and one that was a ‘chopped and screwed’ production.”
Which is harder to describe slow or fast music?
But describing the tempo of a piece of music is a little harder than using words like “fast or slow”. Tempo is a more of a relative term and so in music, we use different Italian terms to describe different speeds. In this post I’m going to cover all the words we use to describe music as slow. Let’s get started.
What’s the best way to use the word slow?
“Unfortunately, every company has employees that actually slow the productivity of everyone else.” “I had a rest after my workout to allow my heart rate to slow .” “Our car would slow to a halt after it ran out of gas.” “The bus was moving slow, and we were all getting impatient.” Find more words!
Which is faster a slow tempo or a fast tempo?
Conversely, a faster tempo has more BPMs. One of the slowest tempos is grave, which as the name suggests, sets a solemn mood. It is in the 20-40 BPM range. On the opposite end of the tempo scale is prestissimo, which indicates the music should be played incredibly fast, at 178-208 BPM.
What are the words used to set tempo?
Words Used to Signify Tempo Word Definition con moto with movement grave very, very slow largo play very slow larghetto fairly slow
But describing the tempo of a piece of music is a little harder than using words like “fast or slow”. Tempo is a more of a relative term and so in music, we use different Italian terms to describe different speeds. In this post I’m going to cover all the words we use to describe music as slow. Let’s get started.
“Unfortunately, every company has employees that actually slow the productivity of everyone else.” “I had a rest after my workout to allow my heart rate to slow .” “Our car would slow to a halt after it ran out of gas.” “The bus was moving slow, and we were all getting impatient.” Find more words!
What is the Italian term for slow music?
Tempo is a more of a relative term and so in music, we use different Italian terms to describe different speeds. In this post I’m going to cover all the words we use to describe music as slow. Let’s get started.
Which is the slowest tempo to play music?
One of the slowest tempos is grave, which as the name suggests, sets a solemn mood. It is in the 20-40 BPM range. On the opposite end of the tempo scale is prestissimo, which indicates the music should be played incredibly fast, at 178-208 BPM.
What is a slow song called?
Lento—slowly (40–60 BPM) Largo—the most commonly indicated “slow” tempo (40–60 BPM) Larghetto—rather broadly, and still quite slow (60–66 BPM) Adagio—another popular slow tempo, which translates to mean “at ease” (66–76 BPM)
Is the song fast or slow or does the tempo vary?
Higher tempo means a faster song, whereas a lower tempo means a slower song. Tempo is flexible in classical music — many pieces have parts that speed up or slow down expressively, which is known as rubato….Types of Tempo.
| Presto | ~170 BPM | Fast, often used in dances |
|---|---|---|
| Andante | ~75 BPM | Walking pace, relaxed |
| Adagio | ~60 BPM | Slow |
What is a slow tempo?
Adagio – a slow tempo (other words for slow are lento and largo) Andante – performed at a walking pace. Moderato – played at a medium tempo. Allegro – a quick and lively tempo (another common word for fast is vivace)
Can a song change the tempo?
No, it is not a device commonly used in popular music. However, this technique is extremely common in other forms of music. There are no good reasons to avoid this technique, band musicians are still musicians. If a clarinetist can change tempo in an orchestra, a guitarist can change tempo in a song.
What is a word for slow tempo?
ADAGIO
ADAGIO. When a piece of music specifies the tempo — or speed — as “adagio,” it should be played slowly, at approximately 65-75 beats per minute (b.p.m.) on a metronome.
Is Adagio slow?
Adagio – slow and stately (literally, “at ease”) (55–65 BPM) Adagietto – rather slow (65–69 BPM) Andante – at a walking pace (73–77 BPM) Moderato – moderately (86–97 BPM)
Does Adagio mean slow?
In music, the term adagio means played slowly. If a symphony has an adagio movement, it’s a section that’s played at a slow tempo. Adagio can be an instruction on a piece of sheet music, directing the musician to play slowly, or it can be a description of a musical interlude.
What is the most depressing music genre?
The top genre for depressed listeners is rock, followed closely by alternative, pop, and hip-hop/rap. On the other end of the spectrum, blues is the least popular genre for people hoping to improve their moods. Easy listening, R&B/soul, electronic, and classical music are similarly unpopular.
Is Depressed music a genre?
| Sadcore | |
|---|---|
| Stylistic origins | Indie rock alternative rock |
| Cultural origins | Mid-1980s, United Kingdom and United States |
| Typical instruments | Guitar bass strings piano |
| Fusion genres |
Which is the fastest tempo?
From slowest to fastest:
- Vivace – lively and fast (156–176 bpm)
- Vivacissimo – very fast and lively (172–176 bpm)
- Allegrissimo or Allegro vivace – very fast (172–176 bpm)
- Presto – very, very fast (168–200 bpm)
- Prestissimo – even faster than presto (200 bpm and over)
Can a song have 2 BPMS?
Not only two consecutive tempos, but it is also possible to have two tempos or time signatures at the same time. Reggae uses this a lot – the rhythm section is playing 4/4, while the melody is 3/4 or 6/8 over the top. Even in classical music, there are pieces with two concurrent tempos.
Gaining an appreciation of the speed, or tempo of a piece of music is very important. There will be times when there will be no conductor, metronome, or click track to help you. Music can be slow, or it can be fast.
To understand at what speed music should be played, we need to understand the signs given to us. As an example, we need to know what is the musical term for fast. Speed is linked to Tempo.
Contents
- Tempo
- Are you a tapper?
- The Musical Terms
- More than just how fast
- Modifiers
- It can get confusing
- Mood Markers
- How is Tempo Conveyed?
- Want to Improve Your Playing and Music Skills?
- What Is The Musical Term For Fast – Final Thoughts
Tempo
These signals and messages about tempo from the composer were only really introduced in the 17th Century. Before then, the composer had no way of informing the musicians what was happening. Now, of course, we can see exactly what should happen.
Tempo and individual instructions tell us how fast a piece of music should be played. It is measured in beats per minute or BPM. If a piece is written in 4/4 time, one hundred beats are equal to 100 quarter notes, or crotchets, in a minute.
Are you a tapper?
When you hear music, do you nod your head or tap your foot in time with the music? You’re probably tapping along with the tempo. It is quite a natural thing to do, and it begins with most of us at a very early age. Musicians “tap” into that a little deeper, and the feeling of tempo can become quite precise.
The Musical Terms
We are going to teach you how to identify the musical term for fast. We are going to identify most of them. But first, let’s think about what the tempo of the song is and does.
Like many words you will find on your sheet music, the tempo is shown as an Italian word at the beginning of the music. It is the composer’s way of telling you how slow or fast the piece should be played. That tempo will apply for the duration of the piece unless you are instructed otherwise.
More than just how fast
From the tempo that is given, we also get an idea of the mood that the composer wishes to capture. As we shall see soon, one of the slowest tempos is “Grave.” It doesn’t take much to work out the music is solemn. At the other end of the tempo scale, we get “Prestissimo,” which is saying, as fast as you can.
Some other words and phrases need to be understood. But for this article, we are focusing on tempo, BPM, and especially the terminologies for fast.
Let’s take a look at terms for tempo in music:
- Grave – Very slow and solemn – 25-45 BPM.
- Largo/Lento – Both are slow – 40-60.
- Adagio – Slow but with expression – 65-75.
- Andante – What is known as walking pace – 75-105.
- Moderato – Moderate pace – 105-120.
- Allegretto – Moderately fast – 110-120.
- Allegro Moderato – Fast but slower than Allegro – 115-120.
- Allegro – Fast and Bright – 120-156.
- Vivace – Fast and Lively – 156-176.
- Vivacissimo – Fast, quicker than Vivace – 172-176.
- Allegrissimo – Very Fast – 172-176.
- Presto – Very Fast – 168-200.
- Prestissimo – As fast as possible – 200+.
The Beats Per Minute (BPM) that have been quoted are just rough indications. You may well find differing beats elsewhere. But they are always meant as a guide rather than a definitive number. Those are the most common labels applied in the music, but there are also some others.
Modifiers
- Accelerando means play faster.
- Non-Troppo means not to play too fast.
These are known as modifiers. They give a little more explanation to the musician. For example, you will often see in the music the term “Allegro.” We have already seen that it means “Fast and Bright.”
But the composer may be concerned that someone playing it might get a little over-enthusiastic. They will not want “allegro” to become “allegrissimo.” They will therefore add a modifier like “non-troppo.”
As we have seen, that means “not too fast or too much.” This will then appear on the music as “allegro non-troppo.” Just a little warning to the musician not to get carried away.
It can get confusing
When asking, “What is the musical term for fast?” it can get confusing. That’s because a lot of the definitions in terms of BPMs and explanations cross over each other. The idea, though, is to give the composer as many ways as possible to give the message to the musician.
In an orchestral situation, it will be the conductor who interprets the music. He or she will decide what is the difference between Fast and Bright or Fast and Lively. There are other expressions describing tempo, but they do not apply to playing fast.
Mood Markers
More indicators conveyed by the composer that advise on the mood of the piece. They might use the marker “furioso,” meaning furious or aggressive. That would be applied to an appellation about fast playing. You might see “allegro furioso,” meaning that he wants you to play “fast and furious.” There are other mood markers, but they don’t apply to faster speeds.
How is Tempo Conveyed?
The composer will either use one of the Italian words on the music before the commencement of the piece. Or, these days, you may see an indicator telling you that there are 70 crochet beats played every minute. You can, of course, vary the number according to how fast the composer wants the music played. They may also use other symbols than crotchets.
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What Is The Musical Term For Fast – Final Thoughts
Understanding when the composer wants you to play fast or faster is important for the piece. It is necessary to be very familiar with this terminology.
Sometimes to help you set the right Beats per Minute and how fast you are to play a Mechanical Metronome can come in handy. You can also get a Rechargeable 3 In 1 Digital Metronome Tuner for All Instruments. And a book that covers what we have discussed, plus other aspects of music theory, is Music Theory Essentials.
The Speed or tempo you play the piece is vital to its outcome. It is therefore very important you know the musical terms for how and when to play fast.
Until next time, let your music play.
What Is Tempo in Music and the Words That Set Tempo?
Tempo is an Italian word at the beginning of a piece of music that indicates how slow or fast the music should be played in order to convey a feeling or set the mood. Think of tempo as the speed of the music. Tempo comes from the Latin word tempus meaning «time.» Once set, the tempo is effective throughout the duration of the music unless the composer indicates otherwise.
Tempo is usually measured in beats per minute. A slower tempo has fewer beats per minute or BPM. Conversely, a faster tempo has more BPMs.
One of the slowest tempos is grave, which as the name suggests, sets a solemn mood. It is in the 20-40 BPM range. On the opposite end of the tempo scale is prestissimo, which indicates the music should be played incredibly fast, at 178-208 BPM.
The tempo markings are the composer’s way of letting the musician know how to play a passage or the entire piece to create the mood intended. Sostenuto, for example, indicates the notes should be sustained, or played just a bit longer than their values indicate, giving emphasis to the indicated passage.
Modifiers and Mood Markers
Tempo markings are refined by modifiers and mood markers. The composer adds modifiers to the tempo markings to indicate how fast or slow the piece should be played. For example, allegro is a very common tempo that means «fast and lively.» If the composer wants to ensure the musician doesn’t get carried away with the tempo, he might add non troppo, which means «not too much.» The tempo, therefore, becomes allegro non troppo. Other examples of modifiers include: meno (less), piu (more), quasi (almost), and subito (suddenly).
Mood markers, as the name suggests, indicate the mood the composer wants to convey. For example, if the composer wants the music to be both fast and furious, he would write allegro furioso as the tempo. Other examples of mood markers include appassionato (passionately), animato (animated or lively), dolce (sweetly), lacrimoso (sadly), and maestoso (majestically).
Here are the most common tempo marks used in music:
| Words Used to Signify Tempo | |
|---|---|
| Word | Definition |
| accelerando | play faster |
| adagio | play slowly |
| allargando | slow down and grow louder |
| allegretto | moderately fast, merrily |
| allegro | play fast and lively |
| andante | play moderately slow |
| andantino | moving moderately |
| a tempo | play at the original speed |
| conmodo | leisurely |
| con moto | with movement |
| grave | very, very slow |
| largo | play very slow |
| larghetto | fairly slow |
| l’istesso tempo | play at the same speed |
| moderato | play at a moderate speed |
| non troppo | not too fast |
| poco a poco | gradually |
| presto | play fast and lively |
| prestissimo | extremely fast |
| ritardando | play gradually slower |
| ritenuto | play slower |
| sostenuto | sustained |
| vivace | lively |
History of Tempo
In the 1600s, musical composers began using tempo markings to indicate how they envisioned the musicians should play the passages. Prior to then, the composer had no way of letting the musicians know what he had in mind for tempo.
This article will answer what is BPM in Music, its importance, how to find the bpm for a song, and other common questions.
What is BPM in Music?
BPM stands for Beats Per Minute. It is used to indicate the tempo of a piece of music. The higher the number of BPM a piece of music has, the smaller the amount of time between the successive beats, and thus faster the piece of music will be played.
What this post covers:
- What is BPM in Music
- How Do You Know the BPM of a Song
- Is BPM the Same as Tempo
- What Is a Good BPM for Music
- What Does 100 BPM Mean in Music
- How Do You Read BPM
- How Do DJs Use BPM
In music, we say the word tempo to refer to how fast a piece of music is being played, and the word BPM is the way to indicate the tempo.
A BPM of a piece of music is indicated by writing a note (like a whole note or a half note) followed by a number.
The tempo of a music piece helps measure how fast or slow beats are happening using the measurement of BPM or Beats Per Minute.
For example, if a song has a BPM of 100, then it means that in one minute, 100 beats will be happening in the song.
BPM is one of the most accurate ways in which the tempo of a song can be indicated. It gives the precise speed of your song, especially when you use a metronome.
A Metronome is a musical tool that produces a clicking sound at a regular time interval, and it helps you keep a consistent tempo.
Metronomes are helpful for musicians and music creators to help keep the rhythm and pace for a piece of music.
So when you set your metronome to a specific BPM number, it will tick off back and forth at the proper speed. In this way, when you play along with the metronome, you will be thus playing exactly at the right tempo.
Here’s the relation of BPM with the speed of a song:
- Faster Piece = Higher BPM
- Slower Piece = Lower BPM
The relation as mentioned earlier, is that a piece of faster music will accommodate more beats of its music within a single minute compared to the slower piece of music.
In the 19th century, the mathematical tempo markings in BPM became popular. Rather than using the Beats Per Minute, some 20th-century composers mentioned the total playing time for a piece from which the performer could derive the tempo.
But as modern electronics came, the BPM became a quite precise measure. The sequencers of the music use the BPM to indicate the tempo.
How Do You Know the BPM of a Song?
To find out the BPM you have either two ways:
#1. Use Software
You can find the beats per minute calculator and tap in your beats. There are many websites, apps, and software that offer BPM calculators.
To use the calculator in many cases, the user is supposed to tap a button along with the song’s beat. The calculator then totals up the BPM based on the taps.
Recommended: 13 Free Online BPM Finders
#2. Use A Stopwatch
The first thing that needs to be done to determine the BPM of a song is to identify the time signature of a song. Using the time signature, we can know how many beats are there in each measure.
Once we have found the time signature of a song, it is easy to calculate the BPM by counting the number of bars (or measures) that go by in a minute.
You can start a song and a stopwatch at the same time. Then, you have to make a mark for every full measure that you hear every 30 seconds.
After that, you are supposed to multiply the number of measures you get by the number of beats in each measure.
At last double, the result you get after all the process and thus you will get the BPM.
Let’s say that you heard 12 measures passing by and the song you heard has 3 beats in each measure. So the number of beats in 30 seconds would be 36.
Now you have to double the result, which means you have to multiply the result by 2 to get the beats per minute. Here 36 multiplied by 2 will give 72, which will be nothing but the BPM of the song.
Is BPM the Same as Tempo?
BPM refers to the number of beats happening in a minute. At the same time, the tempo means the speed of a piece.
BPM is the music measurement used to indicate the tempo of a piece. On the other hand, the tempo is the concept which tells about the speed of the piece.
What Is a Good BPM for Music?
The style (or genre) of music is determined based on several factors, one of which is the song’s tempo.
Here are tempo ranges for some genres of music:
| Dub: | 60-90 bpm |
| Hip-hop: | 60-100 bpm |
| House: | 115-130 bpm |
| Techno/trance: | 120-140 bpm |
| Dubstep: | 135-145 bpm |
| Drum and bass: | 160-180 bpm |
So what BPM will be good? The tempo of the music will mainly depend on the genre of music you want to create.
What Does 100 BPM Mean in Music?
100 BPM means that 100 beats would happen in the song within the time period of 1 minute. BPM refers to Beats Per Minute. So whichever number of BPM is given, that many beats will be occurring in a minute.
Note that the beat is determined by the time signature of the piece of music. So a 100 BPM in a 4/4 will mean that 100 quarter notes in one minute.
How Do You Read BPM?
The term BPM which means Beats Per Minute, is quite self-explanatory. So a tempo is notated at 120 BPM, then it means 120 beats will be happening in 1 minute. On the other hand, if a tempo is notated at 60 BPM, 60 beats will occur in one minute.
How Do DJs Use BPM?
Finding out the tempo of a song is especially crucial for DJs. The DJs have to seamlessly blend the end of one song into the starting of another song without any awkward or jerky transition.
To do a mashup successfully, it is vital to know the BPM of each song. For the purpose of beat matching, accurate knowledge of a tune’s BPM is essential to the DJs.
Related: How to Become a DJ
Summary of BPMs in Music
BPM or Beats Per Minute indicates the speed and tempo of a piece of music. BPM refers to the amount of time between successive beats in a piece of music, and the higher the BPM, the faster the piece of music will be played.
We hope you found this information on what is BPM helpful.
If we missed anything, please share it in the comments.
Most tempo markings are in Italian, French, or German. We’ve translated them and show the bpm.
What is a tempo marking?
A tempo marking lets you know the speed (called tempo) at which the composer wants a piece of music performed. Tempo markings are usually written as a word that corresponds with a number, which you will see below, or in beats per minute (bpm). For example, Allegro means fast and is a tempo between 120 bpm and 168 bpm. The composer could write Allegro or 120bpm. Notice that I wrote «between 120 and 168 beats per minute,» as it is very common for tempo markings to encompass a range. The musician or conductor is free to choose where in this range the piece is performed.
If the tempo is written just as beats per minute, the composer will show you which note value is receiving the beat. For example, in common time, the quarter note received the beat. Composers would notate the tempo as Quarter note = 120bpm.
You’ll see tempo markings most often written in Italian. Here is a list of common tempo markings and their metronome mark range. You’ll notice that many of the words end with -issimo or -etto. -issimo means «extremely» and -etto meaning a «lesser version» of. A great example of this is with Largo (slow); Larghissimo is extremely slow and Larghetto is less slow (or faster) than Largo.
Italian Tempo Marking
Slow Tempo Markings
| Tempo Marking | Translation | Beats Per Minute |
|---|---|---|
| Larghissimo | Very, very slow | 20 bpm or slower |
| Solenne/Grave | Slow and solemn | 20 — 40 bpm |
| Lento | Slowly | 40 — 60 bpm |
| Lentissimo | At a very slow tempo | 48 bpm or slower |
| Largo | Broadly | 40 — 60 bpm |
| Larghetto | Rather broadly | 60 — 66 bpm |
| Adagio | At ease, slow and stately | 66 — 76 bpm |
| Adagietto | Rather slow | 70 — 80 bpm |
| Tranquillo | Tranquil, calmly, or peaceful | 80 bpm |
| Andante moderato | A bit slower than Andante | 92 — 98 bpm |
Moderate Tempo Markings
| Tempo Marking | Translation | Beats Per Minute |
|---|---|---|
| Andante | At a walking pace, moderately slow | 72 — 76 bpm |
| Andantino | Slighlty faster and more light-hearted than Andante | 73 — 83 bpm |
| Moderato | Moderately | 108 — 120 bpm |
| Allegretto | Moderately fast, but less than allegro | 100 — 128 bpm |
Fast Tempo Markings
| Tempo Marking | Translation | Beats Per Minute |
|---|---|---|
| Allegro moderato | Moderately quick, almost Allegro | 116 — 120 bpm |
| Allegro | Fast, quickly and bright | 120 — 156 bpm |
| Vivace | Briskly, Lively and fast | 156 — 176 bpm |
| Vivacissimo | Very fast and lively, faster than Vivace | 172 — 176 bpm |
| Allegrissimo or Allegro vivace | Very Fast | 172 — 176 bpm |
| Presto | Very, very fast | 168 — 200 bpm |
| Prestissimo | Faster than Presto | 200+ bpm |
Sometimes you will see the tempo written in the native language of the composer (typically French, German, or English).
French Tempo Markings
- Au mouvement — play the original or main tempo
- Grave — slowly and solemnly
- Largement — slowly
- Lento — slowly
- Modere — moderate tempo
- Rapide — fast
- Vif — lively
- Vite — fast
These two words are modifiers for tempos. You’ll see them before the tempos defined above.
Moins — less Tres — very
Take the tempo marking of vif, which means lively. Tres vif would mean very lively. Moins vif would mean less lively.
German Tempo Markings
- Kraftig — vigorous or powerful
- Langsam — slowly
- etwas breit
- Lebhaft — lively (mood)
- MaBig — moderately
- Rasch — quickly
- Schnell — fast
- Bewegt — animated, with motion
Terms for Changes in Tempo
Tempos will usually vary during a piece of music. This can happen gradually or all of a sudden. Here are some musical terms you might see that indicate a change in tempo:
- Accelerando — gradual speeding up (abbreviation: accel.)
- Allargando — growing broader or decreasing in tempo
- Calando — going slower (and usually also softer)
- Doppio movimento / doppio piu mosso — double-speed
- Doppio piu lento — half-speed
- Lentando — gradually slowing, and softer
- Meno mosso — less movement; slower
- Meno moto — less motion
- Piu mosso — more movement; faster
- Mosso — movement, more lively; quicker, much like piu mosso, but not as extreme
- Precipitando — hurrying; going faster/forward
- Rallentando (often written as rall.) — a gradual slowing down
- Ritardando (often written as rit.) — gradual slowing down
- Ritenuto — slightly slower, but achieved more immediately
- Rubato — free adjustment of (slowing) the tempo for an expressive purpose
- Stringendo — pressing on faster, literally «tightening»
- Tardando — slowing down gradually (same as ritardando)
- Tempo Giusto — very strict tempo
- Tempo Primo — resume the original tempo
Practicing Tempo
A common mistake students make when practicing music is to set their metronome to the tempo marking and try to play it. If the passage is simple, this might work (but then why are you practicing it?), but a smarter approach is to set your metronome at least 20 bpm slower.
Try playing the passage at this slower tempo and see if you can play it perfectly. If you can, then increase the tempo by 2 to 4 BPM and then play through it again. Repeat this process unit you can play the passage perfectly 12 BPM faster than the tempo marking in the music. This will ensure you have the dexterity to play confidently play through it during a performance.