Allegretto

Allegretto asks for a fairly lively tempo, usually a little less brisk than Allegro. The marking is normally printed above the staff at the start of a piece or a new section. It guides the performer until another tempo instruction changes it.

The 116 BPM example gives you a point to try, not an official definition. Italian tempo words cover a range, and published charts do not agree on exact boundaries. If a score specifies a note value and metronome number, such as quarter note = 116, that gives a measurable pulse.

At 116 BPM, a four-beat measure lasts a little over two seconds. Play the same phrase again at 132 BPM to hear the quicker Allegro pulse.

The -etto ending makes the instruction relative to Allegro. It does not mean every Allegretto piece must fall below every Allegro piece on a BPM chart. The phrase and written metronome marking decide the workable speed. For a direct A/B test, use the same four notes at the example pace and at the pace suggested on the Allegro page. Listen for the distance between the main beats, not just the number of notes you play.