Top Ten Tempo Ranges
This is a list of tempo ranges used in songs and pieces. Each song's tempo is measured in beats per minute (bpm), just like one's heart rate. Four beats make up one measure (or bar), and each range corresponds to a specific bpm number.Extremely fast. 200 bpm (50 measures/bars/notes per minute) and over. Common time is sometimes cut at this range.
Very, very fast. 168-200 bpm (42-50 measures/bars/notes per minute).
Very fast, lively, and bright. 172-176 bpm (43-44 measures/bars per minute).
Very fast, lively, and bright. 172-176 bpm (43-44 measures/bars/notes per minute).
Lively and fast. 156-176 bpm (39-44 measures/bars/notes per minute).
Between allegro and vivace. 124-156 bpm (31-39 measures/bars/notes per minute).
Slightly above the allegro starting point but still within its entire range. Very fast, quick, and bright. 124-156 bpm (31-39 measures/bars/notes per minute).
The most common tempo range in music: fast and bright. 120-156 bpm (30-39 measures/bars/notes per minute).
Slightly below allegro. 116-120 bpm (29-30 measures/bars/notes per minute).
Moderately fast. 112-120 bpm (28-30 measures/bars/notes per minute).
A moderate speed. 108-120 bpm (27-30 measures/bars/notes per minute).
Somewhere between andante and moderato. 80-108 bpm (20-27 measures/bars/notes per minute).
Starts slightly faster than andante nowadays, though at times it was slightly slower. 80-108 bpm (20-27 measures/bars/notes per minute).
Comparable to walking. 76-108 bpm (14-27 measures/bars/notes per minute).
The common marching tempo. 66-80 bpm (16.5-20 measures/bars/notes per minute).
Slow. 52-108 bpm (13-27 measures/bars/notes per minute).
Slightly faster than adagio but slower than andante. 46-80 bpm (11.5-20 measures/bars/notes per minute).
Faster than larghetto but still slow. 44-68 bpm (11-17 measures/bars/notes per minute).
A very broad tempo. 44-66 bpm (11-16.5 measures/bars/notes per minute).
Very slow. 40-66 bpm (10-15 measures/bars/notes per minute).
Very slow and solemn. 24-40 bpm (6-10 measures/bars/notes per minute).
A very slow tempo. 24-40 bpm (6-10 measures/bars/notes per minute).
The slowest standard tempo range possible. 24 bpm (6 measures/bars/notes per minute) or less.