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Allegretto tempo (112–120 BPM)

Allegretto is an Italian tempo marking meaning “moderately fast, a little lively”, usually about 112–120 beats per minute. The metronome below is set to 116 BPM.

Moderato

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112–120BPM (approx.)
116metronome preset
517 msper beat at 116

What does Allegretto mean?

Allegretto is lighter and a little slower than Allegro, generally around 112–120 BPM on modern metronomes (some older sources place it lower, close to 100). It often has a graceful, dance-like quality.

Origin: Diminutive of allegro ("a little lively").

How fast is Allegretto?

On most modern metronomes Allegretto covers roughly 112–120 BPM — that is a beat every 500–536 ms. The BPM refers to the beat of the time signature (a quarter note in 4/4, a dotted quarter in 6/8 when it is felt in two). Try a few tempos within the range: 112 BPM, 116 BPM, 120 BPM.

Famous examples

Beethoven, Symphony No. 7 — the famous 2nd movement Allegretto
Allegretto is common in minuets, rondos and light finales

Practice tips for Allegretto

Keep the touch light — Allegretto is about grace as much as speed.
Practise dotted and short-long rhythms against eighth-note subdivisions.
Compare 112 and 120 BPM to hear how much the character changes.

All tempo markings

Marking	Meaning	Approx. BPM
Larghissimo	as broadly as possible	20–24
Grave	grave, solemn, heavy	25–45
Largo	broad, wide	40–60
Lento	slow	45–60
Larghetto	rather broadly	60–66
Adagio	at ease, slowly	66–76
Andante	walking pace	76–108
Moderato	moderately	108–120
Allegretto	moderately fast, a little lively	112–120
Allegro	fast, lively, cheerful	120–156
Vivace	lively, vivacious	156–176
Presto	very fast, quickly	168–200
Prestissimo	as fast as possible	200+

Slower: Moderato · Faster: Allegro · Read the full tempo markings guide.

FAQ

What BPM is Allegretto?

Allegretto is usually played at about 112–120 BPM on a modern metronome. Ranges differ between sources and editions, and the music itself matters, so treat it as a guide.

What does Allegretto mean?

Allegretto is Italian for "moderately fast, a little lively". Diminutive of allegro ("a little lively").

Is Allegretto fast or slow?

Allegretto is a moderate tempo, faster than Moderato and slower than Allegro.