Tempo
Rhythm & Timing
The speed of the beat in a piece of music, measured in beats per minute (BPM).
Tempo is the speed of the underlying beat in music, measured in beats per minute (BPM). A tempo of 60 BPM means one beat per second. Common tempos range from 60 BPM (slow ballad) to 180+ BPM (fast punk or bluegrass).
Italian terms traditionally describe tempo ranges: Largo (very slow, ~40-60 BPM), Andante (walking pace, ~76-108), Allegro (fast, ~120-156), and Presto (very fast, ~168-200). Most pop songs fall in the 100-130 BPM range.
A metronome is the essential tool for practicing tempo. Start learning new songs or techniques at 50-60% of the target tempo, then gradually increase speed as your muscle memory develops. Rushing through practice at full speed builds sloppy habits.
Related Terms
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