What BPM is Allegro?
Allegro is 120-156 BPM on most metronome scales - a fast, bright tempo. If your sheet music says Allegro and you are unsure, start at 120 BPM and work up.
Where the range comes from
Allegro literally means cheerful or lively in Italian, so it describes a character as much as a speed. Metronome scales pin that character to roughly 120-156 BPM. A slow, heavy piece at 120 BPM will not feel Allegro, and a light, dancing piece can feel Allegro near the bottom of the range - use the number as a starting point, then adjust to the music.
Allegro vs Allegretto vs Vivace
| Marking | BPM range | Feel |
|---|---|---|
| Allegretto | 112-120 BPM | Moderately fast, lighter than Allegro |
| Allegro | 120-156 BPM | Fast and bright |
| Vivace | 156-176 BPM | Very fast, lively |
The ranges overlap because tempo words describe character, not just speed. See the full tempo markings chart for every term from Larghissimo to Prestissimo.
Practice tip
Start about 20 BPM under your target, then step up 4 BPM each time you can play the passage cleanly three times in a row. When it breaks down, drop 8 BPM and rebuild. The full method is in how to practice with a metronome. Try Allegro at 132 BPM on the metronome now.