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Tempo

Speed at which a piece of music is played.

beat pace

Tempo is the speed at which a piece of music is played. It is typically indicated in beats per minute (BPM).

Pronunciation

/ˈtɛmpoʊ/

Etymology

Tempo comes from the Italian word meaning 'time'.

Explain Like I’m 5

Tempo is like the speed of a song - it tells musicians how fast or slow to play it, like saying 'go fast' or 'play slowly'.

Fun Facts

The term 'tempo' comes from the Italian word for time
Composers use tempo markings to guide performers
A metronome is a device that helps maintain a consistent tempo

FAQ

What does tempo mean? It indicates the speed of a musical piece
How is tempo measured? Typically in beats per minute (BPM)
What are some common tempo markings? Allegro, Andante, and Adagio

Synonyms — Similar or Related Terms

speed rhythm

Hypernyms — Broader Categories

rhythm musical time

Hyponyms — Specific Examples

adagio allegro presto

Holonyms — Wholes or Groups

music composition

Indexes

musical

Related

Built by Tim Jones