Guides
BPM and tempo markings explained
Tempo is how fast the beat goes. Musicians describe it two ways: as a number of beats per minute, and with Italian words that also carry a mood. Here is how the two fit together.
In short
- BPM = beats per minute. 60 BPM is one beat per second; 120 BPM is two.
- Italian markings such as Adagio, Andante and Allegro name a tempo range and a character, not an exact number.
- To find a tempo, tap along with the beat, or count beats for 15 seconds and multiply by four.
On this page
What BPM means
BPM (beats per minute) counts how many beats fit into one minute. The beat is the pulse you would tap your foot to. At 60 BPM each beat lasts exactly one second; at 120 BPM, half a second. Double the BPM and every note gets twice as short.
Which note value counts as the beat depends on the time signature. In 4/4 and 3/4 the beat is a quarter note. In 6/8 most musicians feel two beats per bar, each a dotted quarter, so a 6/8 piece marked ♩. = 60 has one beat per second with three eighth notes inside each beat. In 2/2 (cut time) the beat is a half note. A tempo marking usually shows the note value, as in ♩ = 100 or ♩. = 60.
How long is one beat?
Divide 60,000 by the BPM to get the length of one beat in milliseconds. Producers use these numbers to set delay and reverb times so that echoes fall on the beat.
| BPM | Quarter (beat) | Eighth | Triplet eighth | Sixteenth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | 1000 | 500 | 333 | 250 |
| 80 | 750 | 375 | 250 | 188 |
| 100 | 600 | 300 | 200 | 150 |
| 120 | 500 | 250 | 167 | 125 |
| 140 | 429 | 214 | 143 | 107 |
| 160 | 375 | 188 | 125 | 94 |
| 180 | 333 | 167 | 111 | 83 |
Italian tempo markings and their BPM
Before metronomes existed, composers described speed in words, and the Italian terms became the standard. They describe a character as much as a speed, so the BPM ranges below are typical values, not rules; different reference books give slightly different numbers, and the ranges overlap.
| Marking | BPM | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Larghissimo | < 25 | As slow as possible |
| Grave | 25–45 | Very slow and solemn |
| Largo | 40–60 | Broadly, slow |
| Larghetto | 60–66 | Rather broadly; a little faster than largo |
| Adagio | 66–76 | Slow and at ease |
| Andante | 76–108 | At a walking pace |
| Moderato | 108–120 | Moderate |
| Allegro | 120–156 | Fast, bright and cheerful |
| Vivace | 156–176 | Lively and fast |
| Presto | 168–200 | Very fast |
| Prestissimo | 200+ | As fast as possible |
Modifiers adjust the meaning: molto (very), meno (less), più (more), ma non troppo (but not too much), assai (very). Diminutives soften a term: allegretto is a little slower than allegro, roughly 100–120 BPM, and andantino is usually read as slightly faster than andante. Set the metronome to any of these and it names the marking for the tempo you choose.
Words for changing tempo
| Marking | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Accelerando (accel.) | Gradually getting faster. |
| Ritardando (rit.) | Gradually getting slower (often near the end of a phrase). |
| Rallentando (rall.) | Gradually slowing down; in practice used like ritardando. |
| A tempo | Return to the original tempo after a change. |
| Rubato | Flexible time: some notes stretched, others hurried, for expression. |
| Fermata (𝄐) | Hold this note or rest longer than written, at the player’s discretion. |
Typical tempos by style
Styles of popular music cluster around certain tempos because of how they are danced to or produced. These are typical ranges, useful when you set up a practice groove; plenty of pieces fall outside them.
| Style | Typical BPM |
|---|---|
| Slow ballad | 60–80 |
| Hip hop | 80–100 |
| Pop | 100–130 |
| House and dance | 118–130 |
| Rock | 110–140 |
| Drum and bass | 160–180 |
| Punk and fast metal | 160–200+ |
How to find the BPM of a piece
- Tap tempo. Open the metronome and tap the Tap button in time with the beat for eight taps or more. It averages your taps and sets the BPM.
- Count. Count the beats for 15 seconds and multiply by four. Counting for a full minute is more accurate but rarely needed.
- Check by playing along. Start the metronome at the result and listen: if it slowly drifts ahead or behind, adjust by 1–2 BPM.
Watch out for half time and double time. A groove at 140 BPM can feel like 70, and listeners tap either. Both answers are “right”; pick the one where the snare drum falls on beats 2 and 4. Our presets cover common tempos, for example 60 BPM, 90 BPM, 120 BPM and 140 BPM.
Tap a tempo or pick oneTap tempo, 20 to 400 BPM, and the Italian marking for every tempo.Tempo, meter and rhythm are different things
Tempo is the speed of the beat. Meter (the time signature) groups beats into bars: 3/4 is three beats per bar, 4/4 four. Rhythm is the pattern of long and short notes laid over the beat. Two pieces can share a tempo of 100 BPM and feel completely different because one is in 3/4 with long notes and the other in 4/4 with busy sixteenths.
When practising, keep these separate. Set the tempo you can manage, set the time signature so the accent falls on beat 1, and use subdivisions to place the rhythm. The metronome guide has a step-by-step routine.
Frequently asked questions
What does BPM mean in music?
Beats per minute: how many beats fit into one minute. It sets the tempo. At 60 BPM a beat lasts one second; at 120 BPM, half a second.
What BPM is Allegro?
Usually about 120–156 BPM. Allegro means fast and bright; the exact speed depends on the piece and the performer.
What BPM is Andante?
Roughly 76–108 BPM, a walking pace. It is faster than Adagio and slower than Moderato.
How do I calculate milliseconds per beat?
Divide 60,000 by the BPM. At 120 BPM a quarter-note beat is 500 ms, an eighth note 250 ms, a sixteenth 125 ms.
What is the tempo of a heartbeat?
A resting adult heart beats roughly 60–100 times a minute, which is close to the Andante range. It is a handy reference when you have no metronome, but far too irregular to practise with.