Music Theory Lesson Tempo

What is tempo and how do I read tempo markings in music? This music theory lesson gives the music definition of tempo (the speed of the music) and shows how to work out the tempo when reading sheet music.

The following music tempo terms are covered:

adagio - slow tempo
andante - walking pace
moderato - moderate tempo
allegro - fast tempo
presto - very fast tempo

The music theory lesson also discusses the use of beats per minute (bpm) tempo metronome markings, which are increasingly used in contemporary sheet music scores.

Changes in tempo are also discussed, including the following terms:

Rallentando (rall.) - get slower
Ritardando (rit.) - get slower
Accelerando (accel.) - get quicker
a tempo - return to original tempo

Some examples of tempo markings in pieces of music are given.

More examples of tempo markings can be found at https://www.musictheoryacademy.com/ho...