Allegretto tempo: 112–120 BPM
Allegretto is an Italian tempo marking meaning “a little lively”. It is usually played at about 112–120 BPM. Allegretto is lighter and a little slower than Allegro: moderately fast with a graceful, easy motion. The metronome on this page starts at 116 BPM, in the middle of the range.
How fast is Allegretto?
Allegretto is roughly 112–120 beats per minute. At 112 BPM one beat lasts 536 ms; at 120 BPM it lasts 500 ms. Reference books and metronome makers print slightly different ranges, so treat these as conventions rather than rules.
| Tempo | Quarter note | Eighth note | One bar of 4/4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 112 BPM | 536 ms | 268 ms | 2.14 s |
| 116 BPM | 517 ms | 259 ms | 2.07 s |
| 120 BPM | 500 ms | 250 ms | 2.00 s |
What does Allegretto mean?
Allegretto translates as “a little lively”. Allegretto is lighter and a little slower than Allegro: moderately fast with a graceful, easy motion.
Allegretto compared with neighbouring markings
Moderato (108–120 BPM) is the next marking slower. Allegro (120–156 BPM) is the next marking faster. Ranges overlap at the edges, which is why a tempo such as 120 BPM can be described as either Moderato or Allegro.
Practising at Allegretto
Allegretto should feel lively without strain. If your technique tightens at this tempo, practise a few BPM slower and climb in small steps.