Adagio: Meaning, Speed and Practice Tools
Adagio (Slowly, at ease) covers 65–72 BPM in the classical tempo tradition.Slow, relaxed and expressive.
How fast is Adagio in BPM?
Adagio runs from 65 to 72 BPM. The word means at leisure, and while it is slow it is not funereal — it is the tempo at which classical music does most of its singing. Most of the great slow movements in the repertoire sit somewhere inside Adagio, and it remains one of the most useful tempi for developing control and dynamic range.
Adagio in classical music
- •Expressive and flexible rather than rigidly metrical
- •The most common slow tempo in the classical repertoire
- •Ideal for developing vibrato, bow control and dynamic shaping
- •Often paired with dolce (sweetly) or espressivo markings
- •Plays comfortably on strings, voice, solo piano and wind instruments
Famous pieces in Adagio
Symphony No. 9 (3rd mvt. — Adagio molto)
Ludwig van Beethoven (1824)
A sustained Adagio that never loses its inner pulse.
Concerto for Orchestra No. 3 (2nd mvt.)
W. A. Mozart (1741)
Woodwind solos floating over a warm string accompaniment.
Cello Concerto No. 1 (2nd mvt.)
Joseph Haydn (1772)
A graceful Adagio that showcases the instrument upper register.
Try the Adagio metronome
Try Adagio here — set to 68 BPM, limited to 65–72 BPM for this marking.
How to practise at Adagio
Adagio is where good players learn to shape a line. Practise here and vary the dynamic across each phrase rather than playing at one level throughout. Long tones at this tempo expose intonation problems you can hide elsewhere — check the top of each note as well as the bottom. Keep the pulse with your foot or the metronome even when the music feels like it is floating.
Related markings
Questions
What is the BPM of Adagio?
Adagio sits between 65 and 72 BPM, with 68 the most common choice.
Is Adagio slower than Andante?
Yes. Andante starts at 77 BPM, so Adagio is clearly the slower of the two.
What does Adagio mean in Italian?
Adagio means slowly or at ease — it is an instruction about both tempo and character.
How long should I practise Adagio?
Long enough to play it without tension, usually 10 to 15 minutes. Adagio rewards relaxation more than brute force.
All markings
Browse every Italian tempo marking from Larghissimo to Ultra Presto: