Accelerando (or accel.) – Gradually getting faster

(Pronounced ak-sel-uh-ran-doh)

To remember what accelerando means, use the following mnemonic:

Ready! Steady! Accelerate-and-go! (accelerando) The two boys start pedalling their go-carts and gradually get quicker.

The Italian music command accelerando (often abbreviated accel.) is an indication to gradually increase the tempo of a song until otherwise noted.

Examples of accelerando in a sentence

The folk instrumental goes through a period of accelerando, eventually transforming into a lively jig.

The arranger moved the accelerando to later in the piece, so it led gradually into the quick-paced finale.

Accelerando is the hallmark of this sonata, which starts off very slowly, accelerating throughout until the mandolin players' fingers are just a blur.