Allegro: Meaning, Speed and Practice Tools
Allegro (Cheerful, lively, fast) covers 109–120 BPM in the classical tempo tradition.Fast, bright and energetic.
How fast is Allegro in BPM?
Allegro covers 109 to 120 BPM and is the most recognisable tempo marking in Western music — it turns up everywhere from Mozart symphonies to modern pop. "Allegro" literally means cheerful and fast, and it is the reference point most other fast markings are measured against. If you only memorise one tempo, make it this one.
Allegro in classical music
- •Fast, bright and consistently energetic
- •The default marking for first movements and pop songs
- •Requires clean articulation to stay precise at speed
- •The most widely used tempo marking in the repertoire
- •Fast enough that mechanical accuracy starts to matter
Famous pieces in Allegro
Symphony No. 40 (1st mvt.)
W. A. Mozart (1788)
The textbook Allegro opening: fast, clear and endlessly energetic.
Five Piano Concertos (3rd mvt.)
Ludwig van Beethoven (1811)
A rondo Allegro built for virtuoso display.
The Four Seasons — Summer (1st mvt.)
Antonio Vivaldi (1723)
A restless Allegro that rarely seems to sit still.
Try the Allegro metronome
Try Allegro here — set to 114 BPM, limited to 109–120 BPM for this marking.
How to practise at Allegro
Allegro is where most technique problems become obvious. Practise at this tempo with the metronome and work on subdivision — playing sixteenths evenly at speed is the single biggest separator between clean and messy fast playing. Slow everything down until it is boring, then bring it up in increments. If you rush, the usual culprit is anxiety about the next note rather than the note you are playing.
Related markings
Questions
How fast is Allegro in BPM?
Allegro sits between 109 and 120 BPM, with 114 a common choice.
What does Allegro mean?
Allegro means fast and cheerful — it is an instruction about speed and mood together.
Is 120 BPM Allegro?
Yes. 120 BPM is the upper edge of the Allegro range and the standard tempo for pop and dance music.
How do I play Allegro cleanly?
Practise slowly with heavy subdivision, raise the tempo in small increments, and keep the pulse in your body rather than chasing it note by note.
All markings
Browse every Italian tempo marking from Larghissimo to Ultra Presto: