Moderato: At a moderate speed (108–120 BPM)
Moderato means at a moderate speed, a tempo of roughly 108-120 BPM that sits squarely between the slow and fast markings.
Moderato Metronome: 108 to 120 BPM
Press play to hear Moderato at 114 BPM, or switch to the slow and fast ends of the range.
Loops until you press Stop. Beat 1 is accented so you can feel where the bar starts.
What Moderato Means
Moderato indicates a moderate, middle-of-the-road tempo, neither fast nor slow. It is one of the most natural and comfortable tempos for both performers and listeners, roughly matching a brisk walking pace or a calm heartbeat. Moderato is versatile, appearing across all genres and periods of music.
Etymology
Italian, from Latin 'moderatus' meaning 'measured, restrained'
BPM Range
Minimum: 108 BPM
Maximum: 120 BPM
Typical: 114 BPM
Moderato should feel relaxed and natural. It is an ideal tempo for working on evenness and clarity, as it is fast enough to maintain momentum but slow enough for precision.
Moderato in Real Music
Moderato is used less often on its own than as a qualifier, appearing in combinations such as allegro moderato or andante moderato that pull another marking toward the middle. Where it does stand alone it usually signals music that needs steadiness rather than drama. Shostakovich opens his Symphony No. 5 with a movement marked Moderato, and the choice is deliberate: the tempo gives the jagged opening canon room to be heard without turning it into a display of speed. Schubert marked the first movement of his Unfinished Symphony Allegro moderato, a first movement held back from full allegro so the dark lower-string opening can register. In Baroque practice moderato was rarely written, since tempo was inferred from note values and meter, and it becomes common only in the nineteenth century as composers grew more prescriptive. The 108-120 BPM band is also where an enormous amount of popular music lives, close to a brisk walking pace and to the tempo humans naturally tap. That familiarity is why moderato feels comfortable and why it is such a productive practice tempo: fast enough to keep momentum through a phrase, slow enough to expose uneven fingers, inconsistent articulation, and rhythm that has been fudged at higher speeds.
Example Pieces
- Symphony No. 1, 3rd movement (Un poco allegretto e grazioso), Johannes Brahms
- Piano Sonata No. 16 in C major, K. 545, 2nd movement (Andante), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Symphony No. 9, 2nd movement (Molto vivace, trio section at moderato), Ludwig van Beethoven
Common Genres
Related Tempo Markings
Frequently Asked Questions
What BPM is moderato?
Moderato is typically 108-120 BPM, sitting comfortably in the middle of the tempo spectrum. It is one of the most natural tempos for human movement and perception.
Is moderato a fast or slow tempo?
Moderato is neither fast nor slow. It is a moderate, middle tempo. Think of it as a comfortable, unhurried pace with gentle forward momentum.
Is moderato faster than andante?
Yes. Moderato runs 108-120 BPM while andante spans 76-108 BPM, so moderato is the faster marking. Andante suggests walking; moderato suggests a brisk, steady middle pace with clear forward drive.
Is moderato slower than allegro?
Yes. Moderato sits at 108-120 BPM while allegro runs 120-156 BPM, so allegro is distinctly faster. Allegretto, at 112-120 BPM, occupies the narrow ground between them.
What pieces are marked moderato?
Shostakovich marked the first movement of his Symphony No. 5 Moderato, and Schubert used Allegro moderato for the first movement of the Unfinished Symphony. The marking also appears constantly as a qualifier on other tempos.
Related References
Practise Moderato at Any Tempo
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