Beats per minute (BPM)

In modern music, beats per minute (BPM) is usually used to indicate the tempo of a music piece. The greater the BPM tempo, the larger the number of beats that must be played in a minute is, and the faster a piece must be played. Mathematical tempo markings of this kind became increasingly popular after the metronome had been invented. With the advent of modern electronics, BPM became an extremely precise measure. MIDI files and other types of sequencing software use the BPM system to denote tempo.

Common Tempo Markings & BPM
Prestissimo — extremely fast (more than 200bpm)
Presto — very fast (168–200 bpm)
Vivace — lively and fast (≈140 bpm)
Allegro — fast and bright or "march tempo" (120–168 bpm)
Allegro moderato — moderately quick (112–124 bpm)
Moderato — moderately (108–120 bpm)
Andante — at a walking pace (76–108 bpm)
Adagietto — rather slow (70–80 bpm)
Adagio — slow and stately (literally, "at ease") (66–76 bpm)
Larghetto — rather broadly (60–66 bpm)
Lento — very slow (40–60 bpm)
Largo — very slow (40–60 bpm), like lento