Accelerando means gradually getting faster in music. The Italian direction tells a performer to increase the tempo progressively rather than jump immediately to a new speed. It is commonly abbreviated as accel. and usually continues until another instruction defines the destination.
Understanding the relationship between BPM and tempo helps clarify the idea. BPM gives an exact rate, such as 80 beats per minute, while accelerando describes movement from one tempo toward another. The starting speed, ending speed, length of the passage, and musical style determine how the acceleration should sound.
What Does Accelerando Mean in Music?
Accelerando is a tempo direction meaning “becoming gradually faster.” It changes the pace of the pulse over time, often to create momentum, excitement, tension, or a stronger approach to a climax.
Is accelerando a tempo or dynamic marking?
Accelerando is a tempo marking, not a dynamic marking. Tempo controls how quickly the beat moves, while dynamics control volume through directions such as piano for soft and forte for loud.
The two can occur together. A composer might combine an accelerando with a crescendo, causing the music to become faster and louder at the same time. However, neither instruction automatically implies the other. A passage can accelerate while remaining quiet or maintain one speed while growing louder.
Does accelerando specify an exact BPM?
Accelerando does not have one fixed BPM range. Unlike a metronome marking such as quarter note = 100, it describes a gradual process. The performer must interpret how quickly the tempo changes from the surrounding phrase, style, conductor’s direction, or final tempo indication.
Traditional musical tempo markings also carry expressive meaning, so an accelerando should not sound like a mechanical race. The acceleration must support the character and direction of the music.
How Is Accelerando Written in Sheet Music?
Accelerando may appear as the full Italian word or as the abbreviation accel. above or below the staff. A dotted or dashed extension line can show how far the instruction applies, while a later marking tells the performer whether to return to the original speed or establish a new one.
Where does an accelerando begin and end?
The acceleration begins where the word or abbreviation appears. It ends where its extension line stops or where another tempo instruction takes effect. If no destination BPM is printed, performers use musical context to judge the intended arrival point.
Suppose accel. appears at the start of an eight-bar phrase and Allegro appears at bar nine. The speed should normally increase across those eight bars and arrive at the faster Allegro tempo at bar nine. Reaching full speed in bar three would leave the rest of the passage without meaningful acceleration.
What does a tempo mean after an accelerando?
A tempo means return to the tempo used before the temporary change. After an accelerando, it normally restores the earlier pulse rather than preserving the fastest speed reached.
A new metronome value works differently. If the passage begins at 80 BPM, accelerates, and then shows quarter note = 100, the new marking establishes 100 BPM as the destination. Learning how music tempo is communicated makes these different instructions easier to interpret.
How Should You Perform an Accelerando?
Perform an accelerando by increasing the underlying pulse smoothly while keeping rhythm, articulation, tone, and coordination controlled. The goal is a clear progression toward a destination, not an abrupt jump or accidental rushing.
Identify the starting point and destination
First, locate the exact note where the accelerando begins and the instruction that ends it. Determine the starting tempo and, when possible, the target tempo. Then divide the passage mentally into stages so the change develops across the available time.
In ensemble music, every player must follow the same pulse. Watch the conductor, listen to the shortest rhythmic subdivisions, and avoid accelerating independently. A clear beat matters more than one musician’s personal sense of urgency.
Keep the rhythm proportional
As the beat becomes shorter, every note value must shrink proportionally. Quarter notes, eighth notes, rests, and sustained notes should remain rhythmically related. If only the difficult or exciting notes speed up, the result is uneven rushing rather than accelerando.
This distinction becomes clearer when comparing rhythm and tempo: rhythm is the pattern of durations, while tempo is the rate at which the entire pattern unfolds.
How Can You Practise Accelerando With a Metronome?
Practise accelerando by establishing secure starting and target tempos, rehearsing several intermediate speeds, and then connecting them into one continuous increase. A metronome provides reference points, but the final performance must flow between those points.
Worked example: 80 to 100 BPM
Imagine a 16-bar passage that must rise from 80 to 100 BPM. The total increase is 20 BPM. A controlled staged exercise could use:
- Bars 1–4 at approximately 80 BPM.
- Bars 5–8 moving toward 86–87 BPM.
- Bars 9–12 moving toward 93–94 BPM.
- Bars 13–16 arriving at 100 BPM.
These are practice checkpoints, not four sudden tempo changes. After learning the passage at those speeds, play it again while smoothing the transitions into a continuous acceleration.
Use the metronome without becoming dependent on it
Start by practising the passage separately at 80, 90, and 100 BPM. Then use a metronome capable of gradual tempo adjustment, or record yourself without one and check whether the pulse increases steadily.
A practical guide to using a metronome effectively can help you maintain subdivisions and diagnose rushing. Listen for sudden leaps, hesitation before difficult notes, or an arrival at 100 BPM before the final bar.
Accelerando vs. Ritardando, Stringendo, and Più Mosso
Accelerando is a gradual increase in tempo, but related Italian terms describe different kinds of motion. Ritardando and rallentando slow the music, stringendo combines acceleration with a pressing character, and più mosso usually introduces a more immediate faster tempo.
| Marking | Basic meaning | Type of change | Typical character |
|---|---|---|---|
Accelerando (accel.) | Gradually faster | Progressive tempo increase | Growing motion or excitement |
Ritardando (rit.) | Gradually slower | Progressive tempo decrease | Broadening or easing |
Rallentando (rall.) | Gradually slower | Progressive tempo decrease | Often widening or relaxing |
Stringendo (string.) | Pressing forward | Usually faster and more urgent | Intensifying or tightening |
| Più mosso | More movement | Usually an immediate faster tempo | More animated |
The boundaries are not mathematical. Composers, historical periods, and performers may treat ritardando and rallentando similarly, while stringendo often asks for expressive urgency beyond a neutral increase in BPM.
Myth: accelerando simply means “play fast.” Reality: it means move from the current tempo toward a faster one gradually. A piece can begin very slowly and use accelerando without ever becoming objectively fast.
Why Do Composers Use Accelerando?
Composers use accelerando to create forward motion, connect contrasting sections, intensify a repeated idea, or drive music toward a climax. Because the speed changes continuously, the listener senses increasing energy even when the notes, dynamics, or harmony remain similar.
The effect depends on context. A subtle acceleration can make a lyrical phrase feel naturally directed, while a strong accelerando can produce urgency or instability. In either case, the performer should preserve a recognizable musical pulse and beat so the change feels intentional.
Common mistakes include beginning too quickly, accelerating unevenly, sacrificing clear articulation, and reaching the destination tempo too early. The best correction is to map the entire passage, practise its subdivisions slowly, and record several attempts. Controlled acceleration sounds inevitable; uncontrolled rushing sounds accidental.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does accelerando mean in simple terms?
Accelerando means gradually getting faster. It tells a musician to increase the tempo progressively across a passage rather than switch instantly to a faster speed.
What is the abbreviation for accelerando?
The standard abbreviation is accel. It may be followed by a dotted or dashed line indicating how long the gradual tempo increase should continue.
What is the opposite of accelerando?
Ritardando and rallentando are common opposite directions because both indicate a gradual slowing of tempo. Their expressive nuances can vary with the composer and musical context.
What is the difference between accelerando and stringendo?
Accelerando neutrally indicates a gradual increase in tempo. Stringendo usually adds a sense of pressing forward, urgency, or intensification while the music accelerates.
Does accelerando have a specific BPM?
No. Accelerando does not prescribe a universal BPM or rate of change. The starting tempo, destination marking, passage length, style, and interpretation determine how the acceleration is performed.
How long should an accelerando last?
An accelerando lasts until its extension line ends or another tempo instruction appears. If the notation gives no explicit endpoint, the phrase and musical context guide the performer’s decision.
Sophia Mitchell is a music technology writer and rhythm analysis specialist at BPM Calculator. She focuses on BPM calculation, tempo analysis, beat synchronization, DJ workflow tools, and music production education for producers, DJs, musicians, and audio creators. Sophia creates practical, beginner-friendly content around tempo matching, delay timing, metronomes, harmonic mixing, and rhythm analysis to help creators improve musical timing, workflow efficiency, and production accuracy.