Tempo markings and BPM: a reference table
Tempo markings to BPM
| Marking | BPM | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Grave | 20-40 | Very slow and solemn |
| Largo | 40-60 | Broad, stately |
| Adagio | 66-76 | Slow, at ease |
| Andante | 76-108 | Walking pace |
| Moderato | 108-120 | Moderate |
| Allegro | 120-168 | Fast, bright |
| Vivace | 168-176 | Lively |
| Presto | 168-200 | Very fast |
| Prestissimo | 200+ | As fast as possible |
Where "MM" comes from
A marking such as "MM ♩= 120" on a score stands for Maelzel's Metronome, after Johann Maelzel, who patented the mechanical metronome in 1815. It means 120 quarter-note beats per minute. Modern scores usually drop the MM and write the note value directly.
Practical BPM ranges
| Use | BPM | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Learning a new passage | 50-70 | Slow enough that you never guess |
| Building accuracy | 70-100 | Raise in steps of 4 BPM |
| Most pop and rock | 100-130 | The centre of gravity for popular music |
| House and techno | 120-140 | Four-on-the-floor territory |
| Drum and bass | 160-180 | Usually felt at half time |
| Running cadence | 160-180 | Steps per minute, not musical tempo |
Practising with a metronome without becoming dependent on it
- Practise with beats deliberately silenced, so you have to keep time through the gaps rather than following the click.
- Move the click off the downbeat, put it on beats 2 and 4, then on the offbeats only.
- Halve the tempo and let the click mark every other beat, then every fourth.
- Record yourself without the click and listen back for drift. Drift is information, not failure.
Frequently asked
What does BPM stand for?
Beats per minute, the number of beats that occur in sixty seconds. A tempo of 120 BPM means two beats every second.
What does MM mean on sheet music?
Maelzel's Metronome, after Johann Maelzel who patented the mechanical metronome in 1815. "MM ♩= 120" means 120 quarter-note beats per minute.
Is a faster tempo always harder?
No. Very slow tempos are frequently harder because there is more empty time to fill and less momentum carrying you between beats. Many players are least accurate below 60 BPM.
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