The following books have tempo marking.
Bone, David W, Capstan Bars. Harcourt Brace and Co., New York, 1932.
Doerflinger, William Main, Shantymen and shantyboys. Macmillan, New York, 1951.
Lomax, Alan, The folk songs of North America. Illustrated. London, Cassell, 1960.
Sampson, John , The Seven Seas Shanty Book. 1927.
Terry, Richard Runciman, The Way of the Ship. Fireship Press, Tucson, 2008.

"I found it difficult to set the exact time to the music. . . .and now another clever girl came to help me by suggesting the use of the metronome. Miss Margaret Shaw . . . recorded the time . . . .and placed the signs for the metronomic time at the head of the script." David W. Bone April 7~ 1935

Eighth note =1/8
Quarter note =1/4
dotted Quarter note =3/8
Half note =1/2


    CAPSTAN Bone
Amsterdam, Sampson:1/4=108, Terry:1/4=80, Doerflinger:1/4=96, Doerflinger:1/4=94, Bone:1/4=92
Homeward Bound (Goodbye fare you well), Sampson:3/8=40, Terry:3/8=48, Doerflinger:1/4=120, Bone:3/8=120
Leave Her Johnnie, Sampson:1/8=90, Terry:1/4=108, Doerflinger:1/4=108, Bone:1/4=108
Rio Grande, Sampson:1/4=72, Terry:3/8=60, Doerflinger:3/8=63, Bone:1/4=88

   CAPSTAN Sampson
Amsterdam, Sampson:1/4=108, Terry:1/4=80, Doerflinger:1/4=96, Doerflinger:1/4=94, Bone:1/4=92
The Blackball Line, Sampson:1/4=88, Terry:1/4=132
The Bulgine Run, Lomax:1/8=132, Sampson:1/8=144, Terry:1/4=96, Terry:1/4=150
Can't You Dance The Polka, Sampson:1/4=100, Terry:1/4=92, Doerflinger:1/4=63
The Dreadnaught, Sampson:1/8=144, Doerflinger:3/8=72
Fire Down Below, Sampson:1/4=120, Terry:3/8=112
Homeward Bound (Goodbye fare you well), Sampson:3/8=40, Terry:3/8=48, Doerflinger:1/4=120, Bone:3/8=120
Leave Her Johnnie, Sampson:1/8=90, Terry:1/4=108, Doerflinger:1/4=108, Bone:1/4=108
Lowlands away, Terry:1/4=60, Doerflinger:1/4=76, Bone:1/4=84
One More Day, Sampson:1/4=105, Terry:1/4=80
Rio Grande, Sampson:1/4=72, Terry:3/8=60, Doerflinger:3/8=63
Sacramento, Sampson:1/4=80, Terry:1/4=80, Doerflinger:1/4=92
Sally Brown, Lomax:1/4=128, Sampson:1/4=120, Terry:1/4=150, Doerflinger:1/4=76, Doerflinger:1/4=80
Santy Anna, Lomax:1/4=108, Sampson:1/4=90, Terry:1/4=110, Bone:1/4=84
Shenandoah, Lomax:1/4=72, Sampson:1/4=72, Doerflinger:1/4=60
Stormalong, Sampson:1/4=96, Terry:1/4=130, Terry:1/4=104, Doerflinger:1/4=60, Bone:1/4=84
We're All Bound to Go, Sampson:3/8=72, Terry:3/8=60
When Johnny Comes Down To Hilo, Sampson:1/4=160, Terry:1/4=72

    CAPSTAN, WINDLASS, AND PUMP SHANTIES Doerflinger
Amsterdam, Sampson:1/4=108, Terry:1/4=80, Doerflinger:1/4=96, Doerflinger:1/4=94, Bone:1/4=92
Can't You Dance The Polka, Sampson:1/4=100, Terry:1/4=92, Doerflinger:1/4=63
Homeward Bound (Goodbye fare you well), Sampson:3/8=40, Terry:3/8=48, Doerflinger:1/4=120, Bone:3/8=120
Leave Her Johnnie, Sampson:1/8=90, Terry:1/4=108, Doerflinger:1/4=108, Bone:1/4=108
Lowlands away, Terry:1/4=60, Doerflinger:1/4=76, Bone:1/4=84
Rio Grande, Sampson:1/4=72, Terry:3/8=60, Doerflinger:3/8=63
Sacramento, Sampson:1/4=80, Terry:1/4=80, Doerflinger:1/4=92
Sally Brown, Lomax:1/4=128, Sampson:1/4=120, Terry:1/4=150, Doerflinger:1/4=76, Doerflinger:1/4=80
Santy Anna, Lomax:1/4=108, Sampson:1/4=90, Terry:1/4=110, Bone:1/4=84
Shenandoah, Lomax:1/4=72, Sampson:1/4=72, Doerflinger:1/4=60
Stormalong, Sampson:1/4=96, Terry:1/4=130, Terry:1/4=104, Doerflinger:1/4=60, Bone:1/4=84

    WINDLASS & CAPSTAN SHANTIES Terry
Amsterdam, Sampson:1/4=108, Terry:1/4=80, Doerflinger:1/4=96, Doerflinger:1/4=94, Bone:1/4=92
The Blackball Line, Sampson:1/4=88, Terry:1/4=132
The Bulgine Run, Lomax:1/8=132, Sampson:1/8=144, Terry:1/4=96, Terry:1/4=150
Can't You Dance The Polka, Sampson:1/4=100, Terry:1/4=92, Doerflinger:1/4=63
Fire Down Below, Sampson:1/4=120, Terry:3/8=112
Homeward Bound (Goodbye fare you well), Sampson:3/8=40, Terry:3/8=48, Doerflinger:1/4=120, Bone:3/8=120
Leave Her Johnnie, Sampson:1/8=90, Terry:1/4=108, Doerflinger:1/4=108, Bone:1/4=108
Lowlands away, Terry:1/4=60, Doerflinger:1/4=76, Bone:1/4=84
Rio Grande, Sampson:1/4=72, Terry:3/8=60, Doerflinger:3/8=63
Sacramento, Sampson:1/4=80, Terry:1/4=80, Doerflinger:1/4=92
Sally Brown, Lomax:1/4=128, Sampson:1/4=120, Terry:1/4=150, Doerflinger:1/4=76, Doerflinger:1/4=80
Santy Anna, Lomax:1/4=108, Sampson:1/4=90, Terry:1/4=110, Bone:1/4=84
Stormalong, Sampson:1/4=96, Terry:1/4=130, Terry:1/4=104, Doerflinger:1/4=60, Bone:1/4=84
We're All Bound to Go, Sampson:3/8=72, Terry:3/8=60
When Johnny Comes Down To Hilo, Sampson:1/4=160, Terry:1/4=72

   WINDLASS AND PUMP CHANTIES Bone
Lowlands away, Terry:1/4=60, Doerflinger:1/4=76, Bone:1/4=84
Stormalong, Sampson:1/4=96, Terry:1/4=130, Terry:1/4=104, Doerflinger:1/4=60, Bone:1/4=84
Santy Anna, Lomax:1/4=108, Sampson:1/4=90, Terry:1/4=110, Bone:1/4=84

   SHORT HAUL CHANTIES Bone
Boney, Doerflinger:1/4=80, Terry:3/8=88, Terry:3/8=76, Doerflinger:3/8=63, Bone:1/4=72
Bulgine Run, Lomax:1/8=132, Sampson:1/8=144, Terry:1/4=96, Terry:1/4=150
Dead Horse, Sampson:1/4=100, Terry:1/4=120, Bone:1/4=88
Hauling on the Bowline, Sampson:1/4=120, Terry:1/4=126, Doerflinger:1/4=92
Paddy Doyle, Sampson:3/8=72, Terry:3/8=60, Doerflinger:1/2=69, Bone:1/4=152
      
SHORT-HAUL SHANTIES Doerflinger
Boney, Doerflinger:1/4=80, Terry:3/8=88, Terry:3/8=76, Doerflinger:3/8=63, Bone:1/4=72
Haul Away, Joe, Sampson:3/8=84, Terry:3/8=52, Terry:3/8=92, Doerflinger:3/8=72
Hauling on the Bowline, Sampson:1/4=120, Terry:1/4=126, Doerflinger:1/4=92
Johnny Boker, Sampson:1/4=96, Terry:1/4=100, Doerflinger:1/4=76
Paddy Doyle, Sampson:3/8=72, Terry:3/8=60, Doerflinger:1/2=69, Bone:1/4=152

   HALYARD CHANTIES Bone
Blow, Boys, Blow, Sampson:1/4=112, Terry:1/4=150, Doerflinger:1/4=80, Doerflinger:1/4=92, Bone:1/4=93
Blow the Man Down, Sampson:3/8=60, Doerflinger:1/4=176, Doerflinger:3/8=54, Bone:1/4=132
Ranzo, Sampson:1/8=120, Terry:1/4=112, Doerflinger:1/4=88, Doerflinger:1/4=69, Bone:1/4=103
Roll the Cotton Down, Sampson:1/4=120, Terry:1/4=112, Doerflinger:1/4=80, Bone:1/4=100
Tom's gone to Hilo, Terry:1/4=72, Doerflinger:1/4=88, Bone:1/4=80
Whisky, Sampson:1/4=144, Terry:1/4=130, Doerflinger:1/4=80-84

    HALLIARD SHANTIES Sampson
A Long Time Ago, Lomax:3/8=54, Sampson:3/8=80, Terry:1/4=96, Doerflinger:3/8=56, Doerflinger:3/8=69
Blow, Boys, Blow, Sampson:1/4=112, Terry:1/4=150, Doerflinger:1/4=80, Doerflinger:1/4=92, Bone:1/4=93
Blow the Man Down, Sampson:3/8=60, Doerflinger:1/4=176, Doerflinger:3/8=54, Bone:1/4=132
Boney, Doerflinger:1/4=80, Terry:3/8=88, Terry:3/8=76, Doerflinger:3/8=63, Bone:1/4=72
Dead Horse, Sampson:1/4=100, Terry:1/4=120, Bone:1/4=88
Hanging Johnny, Sampson:1/4=72, Terry:3/8=72, Doerflinger:1/4=58
Ranzo, Sampson:E120, Terry:1/4=112, Doerflinger:1/4=88, Doerflinger:1/4=69, Bone:1/4=103
Roll the Cotton Down, Sampson:1/4=120, Terry:1/4=112, Doerflinger:1/4=80, Bone:1/4=100
So Handy, My Boys, Sampson:3/8=80, Terry:3/8=76, Doerflinger:3/8=76
Whisky, Sampson:1/4=144, Terry:1/4=130, Doerflinger:1/4=80-84

   HALYARD SHANTIES Doerflinger
A Long Time Ago, Lomax:3/8=54, Sampson:3/8=80, Terry:1/4=96, Doerflinger:3/8=56, Doerflinger:3/8=69
Blow, Boys, Blow, Sampson:1/4=112, Terry:1/4=150, Doerflinger:1/4=80, Doerflinger:1/4=92, Bone:1/4=93
Hanging Johnny, Sampson:1/4=72, Terry:3/8=72, Doerflinger:1/4=58
Ranzo, Sampson:E120, Terry:1/4=112, Doerflinger:1/4=88, Doerflinger:1/4=69, Bone:1/4=103
Roll the Cotton Down, Sampson:1/4=120, Terry:1/4=112, Doerflinger:1/4=80, Bone:1/4=100
So Handy, My Boys, Sampson:3/8=80, Terry:3/8=76, Doerflinger:3/8=76
Tom's gone to Hilo, Terry:1/4=72, Doerflinger:1/4=88, Bone:1/4=80
Whisky, Sampson:1/4=144, Terry:1/4=130, Doerflinger:1/4=80-84

    HALLIARD SHANTIES Terry
A Long Time Ago, Lomax:3/8=54, Sampson:3/8=80, Terry:1/4=96, Doerflinger:3/8=56, Doerflinger:3/8=69
Blow the Man Down, Sampson:3/8=60, Doerflinger:1/4=176, Doerflinger:3/8=54, Bone:1/4=132
Boney, Doerflinger:1/4=80, Terry:3/8=88, Terry:3/8=76, Doerflinger:3/8=63, Bone:1/4=72
The Bulgine Run, Lomax:1/8=132, Sampson:1/8=144, Terry:1/4=96, Terry:1/4=150
Dead Horse, Sampson:1/4=100, Terry:1/4=120, Bone:1/4=88
Hanging Johnny, Sampson:1/4=72, Terry:3/8=72, Doerflinger:1/4=58
Ranzo, Sampson:E120, Terry:1/4=112, Doerflinger:1/4=88, Doerflinger:1/4=69, Bone:1/4=103
Roll the Cotton Down, Sampson:1/4=120, Terry:1/4=112, Doerflinger:1/4=80, Bone:1/4=100
Shallow Brown, Terry:1/4=69, Doerflinger:1/4=66
Tom's gone to Hilo, Terry:1/4=72, Doerflinger:1/4=88, Bone:1/4=80
Whisky, Sampson:1/4=144, Terry:1/4=130, Doerflinger:1/4=80-84

    FORE-SHEET SHANTIES Sampson
Haul Away, Joe, Sampson:3/8=84, Terry:3/8=52, Terry:3/8=92, Doerflinger:3/8=72
Hauling on the Bowline, Sampson:1/4=120, Terry:1/4=126, Doerflinger:1/4=92
Johnny Boker, Sampson:1/4=96, Terry:1/4=100, Doerflinger:1/4=76

    FORE-SHEET OR SWEATING-UP SHANTIES Terry
Haul Away, Joe, Sampson:3/8=84, Terry:3/8=52, Terry:3/8=92, Doerflinger:3/8=72
Hauling on the Bowline, Sampson:1/4=120, Terry:1/4=126, Doerflinger:1/4=92
Johnny Boker, Sampson:1/4=96, Terry:1/4=100, Doerflinger:1/4=76

    RUNAWAY SHANTIES Sampson
Drunken Sailor, Sampson:1/8=192, Terry:1/4=108, Doerflinger:1/4=90, Bone:1/4=72
Highland Laddie, Sampson:1/4=108, Doerflinger:1/4=106

    WALKAWAY SHANTY Doerflinger
Drunken Sailor, Sampson:1/8=192, Terry:1/4=108, Doerflinger:1/4=90, Bone:1/4=72
Highland Laddie, Sampson:1/4=108, Doerflinger:1/4=106
Roll the Cotton Down, Sampson:1/4=120, Terry:1/4=112, Doerflinger:1/4=80, Bone:1/4=100
   
    BUNTING SHANTY Sampson
Paddy Doyle, Sampson:3/8=72, Terry:3/8=60, Doerflinger:1/2=69, Bone:1/4=152

    BUNT SHANTY Terry
Paddy Doyle, Sampson:3/8=72, Terry:3/8=60, Doerflinger:1/2=69, Bone:1/4=152

    SEA SONGS Sampson
Rolling Home, Sampson:1/4=72, Doerflinger:1/4=66, Doerflinger:1/4=69
The Stately Southerner, Sampson:3/8=60, Doerflinger:E112

    DEEP-WATER SONGS Doerflinger
The Dreadnaught, Sampson:1/8=144, Doerflinger:3/8=72
Rolling Home, Sampson:1/4=72, Doerflinger:1/4=66
The Stately Southerner, Sampson:3/8=60, Doerflinger:1/8=112


                              Abc Notation
The standard musical notation for tempo is the symbol for a note = a number.
The abc notation has provision to accommodate such, viz. Q:1/4=88.

X:1
T:Leave her Johnny
T:Terry
L:1/8
M:4/4
Q:3/8=72
K:Eb
B,2 | G2 G2 G2 EF | G2 GF E4 | F2 F2 F3 E | G (B3 B2) B2 | c2 c2 B2 BA | G2 GF E2 B2 | G3 E G3 F | F (E3 E2) ||

To experiment with different tempos,
copy the abc notation above to Notepad and change the Q line, then copy and paste in
Tune-O-Tron