Grave tempo (25–45 BPM)

• 25–45BPM (approx.)
• 35metronome preset
• 1714 msper beat at 35

What does Grave mean?

Grave is very slow and solemn, roughly 25–45 BPM. More than just a speed, it describes a mood: weighty, serious and dignified. It often opens a work with a slow introduction before a faster main section.

Origin: From Latin gravis ("heavy, serious").

How fast is Grave?

On most modern metronomes Grave covers roughly 25–45 BPM — that is a beat every 1333–2400 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: 25 BPM, 35 BPM, 45 BPM.

Famous examples

• Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 8 "Pathétique", Op. 13 — the opening Grave introduction
• Many Baroque French overtures begin with a grave, dotted-rhythm opening section

Practice tips for Grave

• Subdivide in eighths to keep long notes and rests exactly in time.
• Give dotted rhythms their full length — at slow tempos it is easy to clip them.
• Practise the transition from Grave to the following fast section with the metronome so the change is deliberate.

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: Larghissimo · Faster: Largo · Read the full tempo markings guide.

FAQ