Ritardando
Ritardando means that the tempo gradually becomes slower. In the score it is written “rit.” or “ritard.”; related is “rall.”. At the end of many pieces a ritardando prepares the close, in the middle it leads to a new section.
- Meaning
- gradually slower
- Abbreviations
- rit., ritard., rall.
- Opposite
- accelerando
- Cancelled by
- a tempo
- Typical
- before the ending, before changes of section
Gradually slower
On the page Tempo it says: gradually getting faster is called accelerando, gradually getting slower ritardando. Both are strong means of expression: acceleration drives and intensifies, slowing down calms or announces an ending. At the end of many pieces there is a ritardando that prepares the close, like a train gently rolling into the station. Finer still is rubato, a free, light stretching and pressing of time in the service of expression.
| Piece | Marking | Place | Afterwards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carcassi, “Etüde Nr. 7” | poco riten. | bar 8 | a tempo, bar 9 |
| Schubert, “Der Musensohn” | rit. | bar 65 | a tempo, bar 66 |
| Dvořák, “Sinfonie Nr. 9”, 2nd movement | rit. | bar 119, first bar of PDF page 18 | a tempo in the second bar |
| Carcassi, “Etüde Nr. 6” | rall. | bar 37, page 2 | a tempo, bar 38, then lento |
The table shows four sheets from the archive. In all four cases “a tempo” follows the slowing down in the next bar. In Carcassi No. 6 there is “rall.” (rallentando), a related abbreviation for broadening; in Etüde No. 7 it reads “poco riten.”, and the dashed line above it shows that a gradual slowing is meant here. More on “riten.” and “rit.” under Ritenuto, on “a tempo” under A tempo.
Practising ritardando
The page Tools describes the danger with tempo changes: the metronome mercilessly uncovers where you unconsciously get faster or slower. When you practise a piece, it is best to play the passage with “rit.” without the click, return to the click at the “a tempo” and check whether you land in the same tempo.
Ritardando in the score
Guitar
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Etüde Nr. 7 Matteo Carcassi, op. 60 No. 7 · guitar · 2 pages
“poco riten.” with a dashed line above bar 8, plus p and “dim.”. Before the repeated section in bar 9 comes “a tempo”.
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Etüde Nr. 6 Matteo Carcassi, op. 60 No. 6 · guitar · 2 pages
On page 2 “rall.” is printed below bar 37, in bar 38 “a tempo” follows, in bar 39 “lento”.
Voice and piano
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Der Musensohn Franz Schubert, D. 764 · voice and piano, with chords for guitar · 4 pages
On page 3 “rit.” appears in bold italics above bar 65, in the following bar “a tempo”.
Orchestra
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Sinfonie Nr. 9 e-Moll Antonín Dvořák · 2nd movement: Largo · score · 18 pages
On PDF page 18 “rit.” and “a tempo” appear in the first two bars (119 and 120), later in the flute “rit.” once more.
Common mistakes
- Braking too early or too much: A ritardando is gradual, not a stop.
- Landing in the wrong tempo after the ritardando: “A tempo” means the main tempo before the slowing down.
- Confusing ritardando and morendo: With morendo it also gets softer.
Continue on Maikstrings
Related terms
AccelerandoA tempoRallentandoRitenutoMorendoLentoTempoTempo rubato
Editor: Maik Krohm · reviewed on 3 October 2026
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