Ritardando: gradually slowing down
Ritardando, written rit., is an Italian word meaning delaying. It tells you to slow the tempo gradually. It is often used at the ends of phrases and pieces. A tempo tells you to return to the original speed.
Ritardando (say ree-tar-DAHN-doh) comes from the Italian ritardare, to delay. In music it means to slow down gradually. It is usually shortened to rit. or sometimes ritard. in a score. The change happens over several beats or measures, not all at once.
How is a ritardando written?
The word rit. is written above the staff, usually in italics. A dotted line may follow it to show where the slowing ends. After the slowdown, the composer will write a tempo, meaning return to the original speed, or give a new tempo. If there is no marking, the slower tempo is often kept until the next change. Some editions use poco rit., a little slowing, or molto rit., much slowing.
What is the difference between ritardando and rallentando?
Rallentando (rall.) means growing slower, and in practice most musicians treat it as the same as ritardando. Some teachers say rallentando also suggests a decrease in volume, while ritardando is only about tempo. Another similar word, ritenuto (riten. or rit.), traditionally means a more sudden slowing, at once, rather than a gradual change. The abbreviation rit. can mean either, so the context matters. The next-door idea in the other direction is accelerando.
| Term | Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Ritardando | rit. | Gradually slower |
| Rallentando | rall. | Gradually slower, often the same |
| Ritenuto | riten. | Slower at once, or held back |
| A tempo | a tempo | Return to the original speed |
| Accelerando | accel. | Gradually faster |
How do you play a ritardando?
- Piano: Stretch the beats a little at a time. The first notes of the slowdown are almost normal, and the last are the slowest. Listen for an even slowdown, not a sudden brake.
- Strings and winds: Follow the conductor or the lead player. Everyone should slow together, by the same amount, so the group stays tight.
- Voice: Let the last notes of the phrase breathe and stretch. The singer and accompanist must plan the slowdown together.
Practice tip: Do not slow down too early. A good ritardando starts almost unnoticed and gets stronger toward the end. Count the beats in your head, and make each one a little longer than the last.
Where will you meet ritardando?
Most often at the end of a phrase, a section or a whole piece. The slowdown acts like a breath, preparing the listener for a change. It can also appear before a fermata. You will see it in hymns, songs, piano pieces and orchestral scores. Performers often add small ritardandi even when none are written, especially at the final cadence, because it is a natural way of closing a phrase. Overdoing it can sound sentimental, so use taste.
What is the difference between ritardando and a tempo change?
A ritardando is a gradual slowdown, and the music goes back to its normal speed afterward. A new tempo marking, such as adagio, sets a new speed for the section. See tempo markings for the full list.
Check yourself
1. What does ritardando mean?
Answer: Gradually slower. It is Italian for delaying.
2. What is the abbreviation for ritardando?
Answer: rit.. accel. is the opposite, and cresc. is about volume.
3. What does a tempo tell you?
Answer: Return to the original speed. It is often written after a ritardando.
4. Which term means gradually faster?
Answer: Accelerando. It is the opposite of ritardando.