If you're involved in any kind of music-making process, you've worked with tempo and BPM even if you're not aware of it.

For instance, electronic music producers usually realize the importance of BPM as soon as they make their first beats, since it can dramatically change the vibe of a track. Similarly, classical musicians must be able to understand the mood and tempo of a composition simply by reading tempo markings on a music sheet.

Despite being closely related, tempo and BPM are not the same thing, and understanding the difference between these two critical musical elements will open up plenty of opportunities for your creative career.

In this article, we'll analyze the differences between tempo and BPM, and define all the elements connected to the speed of a composition. Let's dive in!

Definitions

Let’s start with the definitions of these two music elements, and then focus on the differences between them.

Tempo

In a nutshell, tempo is how fast or slow music is played. It can be measured in BPM (beats per minute) or described using Italian words, which is the standard in classical music.

What’s important to understand is that these words, called tempo markings, define not just the speed but also the feel and mood of the music played. A faster tempo is usually associated with more upbeat atmospheres, whereas slower tempos tend to be more reflective or gloomier.

For musicians reading sheet music, understanding the tempo is critical, to say the least; tempo markings provide the musician with a range of expressive possibilities to create tension and release in music.

Below is a list of common tempo markings and their roughly corresponding BPMs. If you want to find out more about the importance of tempo in sight reading, check out my recent article .

• Larghissimo : 20 BPM and below
• Grave : 20–40 BPM
• Lento (or Largo) : 40–60 BPM
• Larghetto : 60–66 BPM (the human heartbeat)
• Adagio : 66–76 BPM
• Adagietto : 70–80 BPM
• Andante Moderato : 69–72 BPM
• Andantino : 66–83 BPM
• Andante : 76–108 BPM (also called walking pace)
• Moderato : 108–120 BPM
• Allegretto : 98–109 BPM
• Allegro Moderato : 112–124 BPM
• Allegro : 120–168 BPM
• Vivace : 126–144 BPM
• Vivacissimo : 140–150 BPM
• Allegrissimo : 150–167 BPM
• Presto : 168–200 BPM
• Prestissimo : More than 200 BPM

BPM

BPM (Beats per Minute) is an unambiguous, numerical measurement that quantifies tempo and tells you how many beats happen in one minute. For instance, a tempo of 60 BPM means one beat every second, 120 BPM two beats every second, and so on.

BPM is crucial in electronic and dance music, but also in the recording studio, where staying in sync is fundamental. A drummer must follow a click track with a specific BPM in order to provide a solid foundation for others to play on top of.

Precise BPM measurements are provided by the metronome, a tool that's been used since the 19th century. Beethoven was one of the first composers to add metronome markings to his compositions, and while the mechanical metronome was criticized by many composers at the time for not being able to communicate the pulse or groove of the music, it's been a crucial component of modern music composition since.

So, Is Tempo the Same As BPM?

Tempo and BPM are not the same thing. BPM tells you how many beats happen in one minute of a song, while tempo refers to both the speed and feel of the music.

Two songs at the same speed might feel very different because of how the tempo is played on each of them. A metronome set to 120 BPM shows a specific speed, but a musician's way of playing "Allegro" at the same BPM can give it a lighter or more energetic feel that numbers can't express. And this can happen across genres, from jazz to metal, funk, and disco music.

Now you’re probably asking yourself: “what defines the different moods of two songs at the same BPM, but with a different tempo?”

Well, to answer this question, we’ll need to define more elements of music and add them to our musical knowledge!

Musical Terms Connected with Tempo and BPM

Time Signature

The time signature is a written representation of a pattern of strong and weak beats. For example, the common time signature in modern music is 4/4, which means there are four quarter notes in each measure, and a quarter note gets one beat.

Meter

Often confused with time signature, the meter is actually how beats are felt and arranged into measures, based on the time signature. For instance, a 3/4 meter gives a waltz-like effect, whereas 6/8 creates a more “rolling” feel.

Rhythm

Rhythm is how music flows and moves. It tells us how long notes last and their value within the meter. Rhythm is what adds excitement and gives emotion to the music.

Beat

The beat is what you feel when you nod your head to a song. A consistent beat gives a sense of flow and connects the listener to the music.

Pulse

Mostly interchangeable with the beat, the pulse is a uniform partition of time that listeners perceive and naturally want to tap along with. The difference is that the pulse is more of a personal feeling of the listener, whereas the beat is the specific tempo that the composer felt the song in.

Syncopation

Syncopation happens when rhythms highlight off-beats or weaker beats, creating variations that make music more interesting. In simpler terms, when you enhance a beat that is usually considered weak, you break the usual rhythm your listener’s mind expects, which can often make the melodic line stand out even more.

Turning These Notions into Music

I know it’s a lot to take in if you’ve never heard of or studied these elements of music. To make things more intuitive, let’s take a look at how you can implement these notions when composing, bearing in mind that each genre comes with a different workflow and that there are no golden rules.

If you’re making an electronic track, whether it’s techno or dance, you should start by choosing the BPM. Here are some common BPMs for the most popular EDM genres:

 

Dub: 60 - 90 BPM

House: 115 - 130 BPM

Techno/trance: 120 - 140 BPM

Dubstep: 135 - 145 BPM

Drum and bass: 160 - 180 BPM

 

Once you choose the speed of your track, think about the rhythm and pulse that’ll make it exciting, like adding syncopated hi-hats or off-beat claps to create more movement.

Unexpected rhythms will make your piece more engaging and hypnotic; plus, it’ll make it stand out. If you feel creative, you can switch from the usual 4/4 to more unconventional time signatures, like 3/4 or 5/4 . After that, it’ll all be up to your creativity and taste!

Rock music usually has a powerful rhythm and pulse, often with a 4/4 time signature and powerful backbeat. You can use the elements discussed above to make things more interesting; for instance, you can use syncopation to highlight the upbeat in guitar riffs or drum fills. Or even changing the tempo, like slowing down during a bridge, to create a more immersive sonic journey.

Also, instead of keeping the same time signature throughout the song, you can change it to surprise the listener. Options are endless!

In classical music, a tempo marking defines the speed and atmosphere of a composition, but composers across centuries have found ways to personalize the tempo in unique ways.

For instance, an Adagio piece might feel slow and reflective until you throw in some syncopation that creates a whole new layer of tension and excitement. If you’re creating a classical piece, make sure to explore ways to make it more articulated and engaging, which will take your listeners on an unforgettable journey.

In jazz, it's the relationship between rhythm and pulse that drives the piece forward. When recording or playing live, jazz musicians "swing" the rhythm by slightly changing the timing of notes within the meter to create a unique jazz vibe.

Listen to any of Miles Davis’ albums to understand how small changes in pulse and syncopation can really bring the music to life, showing the incredible improvisation skills of the musicians while staying cohesive.

These are by no means rules. The beauty of music lies in the endless possibilities it offers to musicians. Consider the suggestions above merely as guidelines to start exploring the power of Tempo and BPM in music composition.

Final Thoughts

I hope this guide will help you make more engaging and exciting music.

BPM, Tempo, and all the other elements discussed in this article are crucial components of every composition. While it’s easy to just take them for granted, they can greatly expand your sonic palette if you decide to explore their creative potential fully.

They can help you get out of your comfort zone, moving away from the same rhythm you'd been using in your previous tracks to explore something new and more exciting.

Good luck, and stay creative!