Rubato (rhythm)
A flexible approach to tempo in which some beats are slightly lengthened and others shortened for expressive effect.
Category
rhythm
Pronunciation
/rʊˈbɑːtəʊ/
Origin
Italian (rubare, to steal)
Length
207 words · 2 min read
About Rubato (rhythm)
Rubato (from the Italian rubare, to steal) is the art of borrowing time from one note and repaying it to another, creating expressive elasticity within a phrase without losing the overall sense of pulse. In its strictest historical sense, the melody stretches and compresses whilst the accompaniment maintains a steady beat — much as a jazz singer might lag behind or push ahead of the rhythm section.
More rhythm terms
Metre
View all rhythmterms →The recurring pattern of strong and weak beats that organises music into regular groups.
Dotted NoteA note followed by a dot, which increases its duration by half its original value.
CrotchetA note lasting one beat in common time, equivalent to a quarter note in American terminology.
QuaverA note lasting half a beat in common time, equivalent to an eighth note in American terminology.
OffbeatAny beat or subdivision that falls between the main beats of a bar, often used for rhythmic interest and lift.
Antonyms
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v1 · 10/04/2026Browse all terms →