Lessons · Beginner
Tempo, Dynamics and Articulation Markings Explained
Read and play tempo markings, dynamics and articulations the way the composer intended.
Notes and rhythms tell you what to play. Tempo, dynamics and articulation tell you how to play it: how fast, how loud, and how each note starts and ends. Most of these markings are Italian words or symbols that have been used for centuries, and they appear in classical scores, band charts, lead sheets and even guitar tab books.
Tempo markings
Tempo is the speed of the beat, measured in beats per minute (BPM). Modern scores often give a metronome marking such as "quarter note = 96". Traditional scores use Italian terms that describe a character as well as a speed. The BPM ranges below are common guidelines; different metronomes and reference books disagree slightly, and the style of the music matters more than the exact number.
| Marking | Meaning | Approximate BPM |
|---|---|---|
| Grave | Very slow, solemn | 25-45 |
| Largo | Broad, very slow | 40-60 |
| Lento | Slow | 45-60 |
| Larghetto | Rather broad, a little faster than Largo | 60-66 |
| Adagio | Slow, at ease | 66-76 |
| Andante | At a walking pace | 76-108 |
| Andantino | Slightly faster than Andante (usually) | 80-108 |
| Moderato | Moderate | 108-120 |
| Allegretto | Moderately fast | 112-120 |
| Allegro | Fast, lively, bright | 120-156 |
| Vivace | Lively and fast | 156-176 |
| Presto | Very fast | 168-200 |
| Prestissimo | As fast as possible | above 200 |
Modifiers refine these terms: molto (very), poco (a little), non troppo (not too much), assai (very), con moto (with motion). "Allegro ma non troppo" means fast, but not too fast.
ToolsOnline MetronomeAccurate browser metronome with tap tempo, accents, time signatures and subdivisions.Tempo changes
Music rarely stays at exactly the same speed. These markings describe gradual or sudden changes:
| Marking | Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Accelerando | accel. | Gradually faster |
| Stringendo | string. | Pressing forward, faster with growing tension |
| Ritardando | rit. or ritard. | Gradually slower |
| Rallentando | rall. | Gradually slower (often a broader slowing) |
| Ritenuto | riten. | Immediately slower |
| Allargando | allarg. | Slower and broader, often also louder |
| Meno mosso | Less motion: slower | |
| Più mosso | More motion: faster | |
| A tempo | Return to the previous tempo | |
| Tempo primo | Tempo I | Return to the opening tempo |
| Rubato | Flexible tempo: some notes are stretched, others hurried, for expression | |
| Morendo | Dying away: softer and usually slower |
Rubato deserves special attention. It does not mean playing out of time. The underlying pulse continues, and the melody pushes ahead or holds back around it. In much romantic piano music, the accompaniment stays relatively steady while the melody breathes freely.
Dynamics
Dynamics describe volume. They are always relative: forte in a solo guitar piece is not as loud as forte in a full orchestra. What matters is the contrast between levels.
| Symbol | Italian | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ppp | pianississimo | As soft as possible |
| pp | pianissimo | Very soft |
| p | piano | Soft |
| mp | mezzo piano | Moderately soft |
| mf | mezzo forte | Moderately loud |
| f | forte | Loud |
| ff | fortissimo | Very loud |
| fff | fortississimo | As loud as possible |
Changing dynamics
- Crescendo (cresc., or an opening "hairpin" <) means gradually louder.
- Decrescendo or diminuendo (decresc., dim., or a closing hairpin >) means gradually softer.
- Subito means suddenly: subito p is an immediate drop to soft.
- Sforzando (sfz or sf) is a sudden strong accent on one note or chord.
- Fortepiano (fp) means attack loudly, then immediately become soft.
A dynamic marking stays in effect until a new one appears. A hairpin ends at the next written dynamic, so "p < f" means start soft and grow to loud by the point where the f is written.
Articulations
Articulation describes how a note begins, how long it lasts and how it connects to the next note. Here is a simple phrase you can practice with every articulation below:
| Articulation | Symbol | How to play it |
|---|---|---|
| Legato | Curved slur over notes | Smoothly connected, no gap between notes |
| Staccato | Dot above or below the note head | Short and detached, roughly half the written value |
| Staccatissimo | Small wedge | Very short and sharp |
| Tenuto | Short horizontal line | Hold for the full value, often with slight weight |
| Accent | > | Attack this note louder than its neighbours |
| Marcato | ^ | Strong accent, heavier and more marked |
| Portato | Dots under a slur | Gently separated, between legato and staccato |
| Fermata | Arc with a dot | Hold the note or rest longer than written, at the performer's or conductor's discretion |
Slur or tie?
Both are curved lines, but they mean different things. A tie joins two notes of the same pitch into one longer note. A slur joins different pitches and means legato. On guitar and bass, a slur in tab often means a hammer-on, pull-off or slide: only the first note is picked.
Articulation on guitar and bass
- Legato: let notes ring into each other, use hammer-ons and pull-offs.
- Staccato: release fretting pressure right after the note, or use light palm muting.
- Accent: pick or pluck harder on that note only, keeping the others even.
- Tenuto: hold the note right up to the next one with no gap.
Putting it together
When you meet a new piece, read the expressive markings before the notes. Ask three questions:
- What is the basic tempo, and where does it change?
- What is the loudest point and the softest point?
- Which notes are short, which are long, and which are stressed?
Marking these on your copy with a pencil, and practicing them from the very first slow run-through, avoids learning a "flat" version that you have to fix later.
Practice
- Tempo guessing: set the metronome to random speeds without looking, tap along and name the Italian term that fits. Then check the BPM.
- Dynamic ladder: play a one-octave scale eight times, once at each level from ppp to fff. Keep the tempo and tone steady.
- Hairpin scale: play a scale up with a crescendo from p to f and down with a diminuendo back to p.
- Articulation set: play the practice phrase four times: legato, staccato, with accents on beats 1 and 3, then with tenuto on every note.
- Rit. and a tempo: play a simple melody, slow down over the last two bars (rit.), pause on the final note (fermata), then restart a tempo.
Related lessons: Note values and rhythm, Time signatures, Staff and clefs, Practice method, Reading tab.
Tools and exercises: Metronome, Rhythm 1, Rhythm 2, Rhythm 3.
Printables: Note values chart, Staff paper, Staff and tab paper.