Which term indicates the tempo is slowing down?

Which term indicates the tempo is slowing down?

• A. Accelerando
• B. Rallentando
• C. Fermata
• D. Ritardando

Answer: (D)

Gradual tempo decrease is marked by ritardando. This term directs you to slow down smoothly over the passage, often toward a new, slower tempo by the end. It’s the standard instruction for a deliberate deceleration in most scores, and you’ll often see it written as ritardando or abbreviated rit. While rallentando also signals a slowdown, ritardando provides a clearer, more precise cue to decelerate. An accelerando means speeding up, and a fermata indicates a pause. So the term that indicates the tempo is slowing down is ritardando.

Gradual tempo decrease is marked by ritardando. This term directs you to slow down smoothly over the passage, often toward a new, slower tempo by the end. It’s the standard instruction for a deliberate deceleration in most scores, and you’ll often see it written as ritardando or abbreviated rit. While rallentando also signals a slowdown, ritardando provides a clearer, more precise cue to decelerate. An accelerando means speeding up, and a fermata indicates a pause. So the term that indicates the tempo is slowing down is ritardando.