Rhythm, Meter and Tempo

Rhythm organizes music in time. While pitch and harmony often receive the most attention in theory classes, rhythm is what makes music move, and in many world traditions rhythmic complexity is the primary vehicle of expression. This lesson covers beat, meter, and the ways composers manipulate time.

Beat, pulse and tempo

The beat is the steady underlying pulse you tap your foot to. Tempo is the speed of that pulse, traditionally described with Italian terms such as largo (very slow), andante (walking pace), allegro (fast), and presto (very fast), or measured precisely in beats per minute with a metronome marking. Tempo is not merely a technical setting; it shapes character and mood, and small changes—an accelerando that speeds up or a ritardando that slows down—can create powerful expressiv