Rhythm & Time

Tempo

also called “speed”also called “how fast”

The short version

How fast or slow the music is moving.

A little more

Tempo is the speed of the pulse — not how busy the drums are. A slow song can be full of fast little notes and still be slow.

Hear it

Try it

Same beat, four tempos

Nothing changes except the BPM. Notice how the feel changes anyway.

Why you'd careThe same pattern can feel sleepy, confident or frantic depending only on tempo. It's the first thing you set before you write anything.

Go deeper

Written music uses Italian words for tempo ranges — largo (very slow), andante (walking), moderato, allegro (quick), presto (very fast). Producers just use a number instead.

Where you'll see this in BDT

Keep the Beat →Add to It →

Learn next

BPM (Beats Per Minute)How fast the music is going, measured in beats per minute.BeatThe steady thing you'd count or clap along to: 1, 2, 3, 4.MetronomeA device that clicks at a steady tempo so you can play in time.GrooveThe overall feel of a rhythm — the thing that makes you move.

88 words and counting in The Music Guide. Back to the guide