7.6 Tempo
| Category: Elementary music theory | Tags: Tempo |
The speed (tempo) in which music is played is indicated with (often Italian) words. At the begining of a piece, above the first measure, is usually an indication for the tempo in which the piece is meant to be played, for example, allegro or moderato. Then you’ll know how fast you have to count and how long a quarter note lasts. Also, within the piece of music are terms indicating the speed/tempo changes, like ritardando. Learn these words from memory. Do you not know one of the words? Look it up and learn it from memory.
Tempo
| agitato | agitated. |
| andantino | slightly faster than andante (but it can also mean slightly slower). |
| grave | very slow, solemn. |
| largo | slow, stately. |
| larghetto | rather slow, but slightly faster than largo. |
| lento | slow. |
| prestissimo | very fast. |
| smorzando | dying away in tone and speed. |
| troppo | too much. |