Moderato BPM

100 — 120 BPM

Moderato — Moderate speed

Typical midpoint: 110 BPM · 545 ms per beat

What is Moderato?

Moderato indicates a moderate tempo — neither fast nor slow. The marking is versatile and accessible, sitting in the natural pocket of much popular music. At 100-120 BPM, Moderato covers many radio pop songs, funk grooves, classic rock anthems, and salsa rhythms.

What does Moderato mean?

Etymology: From the Italian "moderato," meaning moderate or restrained. Shares its root with the English word "moderate."

Literal translation: Moderate speed

History of Moderato as a tempo marking

Used by composers as a general-purpose marking, often combined with other terms (Allegro moderato, Andante moderato) to fine-tune the intended pace. Common in operatic and symphonic writing across all eras.

Famous Moderato pieces

Piece	Composer	BPM
Symphony No. 2 (Allegro moderato, 1st mvt)	Brahms	108
Piano Sonata No. 14 (Moderato, 1st mvt)	Schubert	110
Swan Lake (Moderato assai)	Tchaikovsky	100

Modern genres at Moderato tempo

While Moderato originated as a classical music marking, the 100-120 BPM range covers many modern genres:

Pop
Funk
Disco
Soft rock
Modern country
Latin (salsa)

Moderato compared to neighbouring tempos

Marking	BPM Range	Meaning
Andante (slower)	80-100	Walking pace
Moderato	100-120	Moderate speed
Allegretto (faster)	112-120	Moderately fast

Want to check if your track is at Moderato tempo?

Use the Tap Tempo Tool

See the full tempo markings guide, browse BPM by genre, or check the BPM reference for any specific tempo.