Presto is an Italian tempo marking meaning “quickly”. It is usually played at about 168–200 BPM. Presto means very fast. It is quicker than Vivace and is often marked for brilliant closing movements. The metronome on this page starts at 184 BPM, in the middle of the range.
How fast is Presto?
Presto is roughly 168–200 beats per minute. At 168 BPM one beat lasts 357 ms; at 200 BPM it lasts 300 ms. Reference books and metronome makers print slightly different ranges, so treat these as conventions rather than rules.
Beat lengths across the Presto range
Tempo
Quarter note
Eighth note
One bar of 4/4
168 BPM
357 ms
179 ms
1.43 s
184 BPM
326 ms
163 ms
1.30 s
200 BPM
300 ms
150 ms
1.20 s
What does Presto mean?
Presto translates as “quickly”. Presto means very fast. It is quicker than Vivace and is often marked for brilliant closing movements.
Presto compared with neighbouring markings
Vivace (156–176 BPM) is the next marking slower. Prestissimo (200–240 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 Presto
Practise Presto passages in short bursts above a tempo you can control, then return to that controlled tempo. Counting in half time keeps the beat readable.