Accelerando: gradually speeding up
Accelerando, written accel., is an Italian word meaning speeding up. It tells you to gradually increase the tempo. It is about speed, not volume. Crescendo is about getting louder.
Accelerando (say ah-cheh-leh-RAHN-doh) comes from the Italian accelerare, to speed up. In music it means to get gradually faster. It is usually written accel. above the staff, often followed by a dotted line that shows how far the change reaches. It is the opposite of ritardando.
How is accelerando written?
The marking is accel. in italics above the staff. A dashed line may follow it to show where the quickening stops. When the new speed is reached, the composer may write a tempo to go back to the original or use a new tempo word such as presto. If the marking is poco a poco accel., speed up little by little. Expect to see it in dances, folk tunes and exciting endings.
What is the difference between accelerando and crescendo?
This is a common mix-up, because both words describe growth, and because many pieces get louder and faster at once. Crescendo means gradually louder. Accelerando means gradually faster. They can be used together, but each is its own instruction. If the score says accel. alone, speed up and keep the volume the same. If it says cresc. alone, get louder and keep the tempo steady.
| Term | Changes | Opposite |
|---|---|---|
| Accelerando | Speed | Ritardando |
| Crescendo | Volume | Diminuendo |
| Stringendo | Speed, with a sense of urgency | Allargando |
Are there other words for speeding up?
- Stringendo: Pressing forward, getting faster, usually with growing intensity.
- Più mosso: More motion, a faster tempo, often a sudden or lasting change.
- Affrettando: Hurrying.
These words are close in meaning. Accelerando is the most common one. Stringendo adds a feeling of urgency, and più mosso usually sets a new, faster tempo rather than a gradual speed-up.
How do you play an accelerando?
- Piano: Start slowly. Make each beat a tiny bit shorter than the last. Plan where you will end up so that you can still play the notes cleanly at the top speed.
- Strings and winds: Watch the conductor, and keep the group together. Everyone must speed up at the same rate. Rushing ahead of the group is the common mistake.
- Voice: Keep the words clear as the music speeds up. Prepare the consonants early so that the text does not blur.
Practice tip: Practice the passage at the final tempo first. If you can play it at the end speed, the accelerando will feel safe. Then practice the gradual speed-up.
Where will you meet accelerando?
You will find it in lively dances, in the final pages of pieces, and in dramatic film and opera music. It is often used to build excitement, such as in a chase scene or a closing section. A steady, smooth acceleration feels natural. A sudden jump to a new speed sounds forced, unless it is meant to surprise.
What happens after accelerando?
Check the score. The piece may stay at the new speed, or the composer may write a tempo to go back to the first one. Learn more about speeds on the page about tempo markings.
Check yourself
1. What does accelerando mean?
Answer: Gradually faster. It comes from the Italian for speeding up.
2. What is the abbreviation for accelerando?
Answer: accel.. The abbreviation rit. is the opposite, meaning gradually slower.
3. How is crescendo different from accelerando?
Answer: Crescendo is about volume. Accelerando is about speed, while crescendo is about volume.
4. Which word means gradually slower?
Answer: Ritardando. It is the opposite of accelerando.