Adagio tempo (66–76 BPM)

• 66–76BPM (approx.)
• 70metronome preset
• 857 msper beat at 70

What does Adagio mean?

Adagio means slowly and at ease, typically 66–76 BPM — slower than Andante but faster than Largo. It is the classic marking for expressive slow movements, and "an adagio" is often used as a name for a slow piece.

Origin: From ad agio ("at ease, at leisure").

How fast is Adagio?

On most modern metronomes Adagio covers roughly 66–76 BPM — that is a beat every 789–909 ms. The BPM refers to the beat of the time signature (a quarter note in 4/4, a dotted quarter in 6/8 when it is felt in two). Try a few tempos within the range: 66 BPM, 70 BPM, 76 BPM.

Famous examples

• Samuel Barber, Adagio for Strings
• Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 14 "Moonlight" — 1st movement Adagio sostenuto

Practice tips for Adagio

• Practise with triplet subdivisions for pieces like the "Moonlight" Sonata that move in steady triplets.
• Keep the pulse steady while shaping dynamics — expressive does not mean unsteady.
• Try the click on beat 1 only (mute the other beats) for a freer feel that still keeps you honest.

All tempo markings

Marking	Meaning	Approx. BPM
Larghissimo	as broadly as possible	20–24
Grave	grave, solemn, heavy	25–45
Largo	broad, wide	40–60
Lento	slow	45–60
Larghetto	rather broadly	60–66
Adagio	at ease, slowly	66–76
Andante	walking pace	76–108
Moderato	moderately	108–120
Allegretto	moderately fast, a little lively	112–120
Allegro	fast, lively, cheerful	120–156
Vivace	lively, vivacious	156–176
Presto	very fast, quickly	168–200
Prestissimo	as fast as possible	200+

Slower: Larghetto · Faster: Andante · Read the full tempo markings guide.

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