Top 10 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.

The Top Ten

  1. Prestissimo

    Extremely fast. 200 bpm (50 measures/bars/notes per minute) and over. Common time is sometimes cut at this range.

  2. Presto

    Very, very fast. 168-200 bpm (42-50 measures/bars/notes per minute).

  3. Allegrissimo

    Very fast, lively, and bright. 172-176 bpm (43-44 measures/bars per minute).

  4. Vivacissimo

    Very fast, lively, and bright. 172-176 bpm (43-44 measures/bars/notes per minute).

  5. Vivace

    Lively and fast. 156-176 bpm (39-44 measures/bars/notes per minute).

  6. Allegro Vivace

    Between allegro and vivace. 124-156 bpm (31-39 measures/bars/notes per minute).

  7. Molto Allegro

    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).

  8. Allegro

    The most common tempo range in music: fast and bright. 120-156 bpm (30-39 measures/bars/notes per minute).

  9. Allegro Moderato

    Slightly below allegro. 116-120 bpm (29-30 measures/bars/notes per minute).

  10. Allegretto

    Moderately fast. 112-120 bpm (28-30 measures/bars/notes per minute).

    11. The Newcomers
  11. ?

    Andante Moderato

    Somewhere between andante and moderato. 80-108 bpm (20-27 measures/bars/notes per minute).

  12. ?

    Adagissimo

    A very slow tempo. 24-40 bpm (6-10 measures/bars/notes per minute).

    13. The Contenders

  13. Moderato

    A moderate speed. 108-120 bpm (27-30 measures/bars/notes per minute).

  14. Andantino

    Starts slightly faster than andante nowadays, though at times it was slightly slower. 80-108 bpm (20-27 measures/bars/notes per minute).

  15. Andante

    Comparable to walking. 76-108 bpm (14-27 measures/bars/notes per minute).

  16. Marcia Moderato

    The common marching tempo. 66-80 bpm (16.5-20 measures/bars/notes per minute).

  17. Lento

    Slow. 52-108 bpm (13-27 measures/bars/notes per minute).

  18. Adagietto

    Slightly faster than adagio but slower than andante. 46-80 bpm (11.5-20 measures/bars/notes per minute).

  19. Adagio

    Faster than larghetto but still slow. 44-68 bpm (11-17 measures/bars/notes per minute).

  20. Larghetto

    A very broad tempo. 44-66 bpm (11-16.5 measures/bars/notes per minute).

  21. Largo

    Very slow. 40-66 bpm (10-15 measures/bars/notes per minute).

  22. Grave

    Very slow and solemn. 24-40 bpm (6-10 measures/bars/notes per minute).

  23. Larghissimo

    The slowest standard tempo range possible. 24 bpm (6 measures/bars/notes per minute) or less.