The Music Tempo calculator computes the tempo of music based on the beats per measure, number of measures, and duration of music.
INSTRUCTIONS: Enter the following:
- (B) Beats per Measure
- (nM) Number of Measures
- (L) Length (duration) of Music
Music Temp: The music tempo is returned in beats per minute.
The Math / Science
The formula for computing the average tempo of music is:
T = B * nM / L
where:
- T = tempo in beats per minute
- B = number of beats per measure
- nM = number of measures
- L = length or duration of the music
Different Tempos:
From fastest to slowest, the common tempo markings are:
• Prestissimo — extremely fast (200 and above bpm)
• Vivacissimamente — adverb of vivacissimo, "very quickly and lively"
• Vivacissimo — very fast and lively
• Presto — very fast (168–200 bpm)
• Allegrissimo — very fast
• Vivo — lively and fast
• Vivace — lively and fast (≈140 bpm)
• Allegro — fast and bright or "march tempo" (120–168 bpm)
• Allegro moderato — moderately quick (112–124 bpm)
• Allegretto — moderately fast (but less so than allegro)
• Allegretto grazioso — moderately fast and gracefully
• Moderato — moderately (108–120 bpm)
• Moderato espressivo — moderately with expression
• Andantino — alternatively faster or slower than andante
• Andante — at a walking pace (76–108 bpm)
• Tranquillamente — adverb of tranquillo, "tranquilly"
• Tranquillo — tranquil
• Adagietto — rather slow (70–80 bpm)
• Adagio — slow and stately (literally, "at ease") (66–76 bpm)
• Grave — slow and solemn
• Larghetto — rather broadly (60–66 bpm)
• Largo — Very slow (40–60 bpm), like lento
• Lento — very slow (40–60 bpm)
• Largamente/Largo — "broadly", very slow (40 bpm and below)
• Larghissimo — very very slow (20 bpm and below)
Terms for tempo change:
Rallentando – gradually slowing down
Ritardando – holding back, becoming slower
Ritenuto – immediately slowing down
Accelerando or stringendo – gradually accelerating
Articulation Terms:
• Marcato — marching tempo "Stacotto-ish" Strong
• Misterioso - slightly slower than marcato
• Tempo comodo — at a comfortable speed
• Tempo giusto — at a consistent speed
• L'istesso tempo — at the same speed
• Non troppo — not too much (e.g. Allegro ma non troppo, "fast but not too much")
• Assai — rather, very, enough as is needed (e.g. Adagio assai)
• Con — with (e.g. Andante con moto, "at a walking pace with motion")
• Molto — much, very (e.g. Molto allegro)
• Poco — a little (e.g. Poco allegro)
• Quasi — as if (e.g. Più allegro quasi presto, "faster, as if presto")
• tempo di... — the speed of a ... (e.g. Tempo di valse (speed of a waltz), Tempo di marcia
(speed of a march))
Sources/References:
-http://pickuptheguitar.com/calculate-length-song
-http://www.signalcorpsbands.com/uploads/2/0/9/9/20995666/basic_tempo_markings.pdf
