Allegretto: Meaning, Speed and Practice Tools
Allegretto (Moderately fast, cheerful) covers 101–108 BPM in the classical tempo tradition.Cheerful and moderately quick.
How fast is Allegretto in BPM?
Allegretto is the diminutive of Allegro, running 101 to 108 BPM. It is lively and pleasant without being fast — the tempo of a good-humoured skipping tune. The marking appears often in sonata finales and flute pieces, and it sits in a useful middle zone: energetic enough to feel like momentum, controlled enough to stay clean.
Allegretto in classical music
- •Light, cheerful and clearly in motion
- •Bubbling passagework and skipping figures sit naturally here
- •Frequent in finales and in solo flute repertoire
- •Often marked leggiero or con brio
- •A comfortable stepping stone between Moderato and Allegro
Famous pieces in Allegretto
Symphony No. 3 "Eroica" (3rd mvt.)
Ludwig van Beethoven (1804)
A famously quick scherzo in the Allegretto range.
Flute Concerto in G (2nd mvt.)
J. C. Bach (c. 1730)
A light Allegretto written for the instrument's sweet middle register.
Sonata in C (1st mvt.)
C. P. E. Bach (1740)
Cheerful and conversational at a gentle clip.
Try the Allegretto metronome
Try Allegretto here — set to 104 BPM, limited to 101–108 BPM for this marking.
How to practise at Allegretto
Here most of your work is in the hand, not the arm. Practise passagework slowly first, then bring the metronome up in steps of two or three rather than jumping straight to the marked tempo. The common mistake is letting the little finger trail behind — slow it down until it stays even, then speed up again.
Related markings
Questions
How fast is Allegretto?
Allegretto runs from 101 to 108 BPM.
Is Allegretto faster than Allegro?
No. Allegretto tops out at 108 BPM while Allegro starts at 109.
What does Allegretto mean?
Allegretto means quite fast — the diminutive of Allegro, and noticeably lighter.
What is Allegretto used for?
Light, cheerful music: scherzos, finales, and skipping passagework that wants energy without aggression.
All markings
Browse every Italian tempo marking from Larghissimo to Ultra Presto: