Tempo Markings (Italian Terms)
The Italian tempo terms and roughly how fast each one is in beats per minute — from Largo to Prestissimo. The vocabulary written at the top of a score.
| Marking | Meaning | Approx. BPM |
|---|---|---|
| Larghissimo | Extremely slow and broad | ≤ 24 |
| Grave | Very slow and solemn | 25–45 |
| Largo | Slow and broad | 40–60 |
| Lento | Slow | 45–60 |
| Adagio | Slow and expressive | 66–76 |
| Andante | At a walking pace | 76–108 |
| Moderato | At a moderate speed | 108–120 |
| Allegro | Fast and bright | 120–156 |
| Vivace | Lively and fast | 156–176 |
| Presto | Very fast | 168–200 |
| Prestissimo | As fast as possible | ≥ 200 |
BPM ranges are approximate and vary between sources and eras — the terms describe character as much as exact speed. Set a tempo and hear it with the metronome.