Largo: Meaning, Speed and Practice Tools
Largo (Broad, extended) covers 41–54 BPM in the classical tempo tradition.Slow and broad, with plenty of space.
How fast is Largo in BPM?
Largo covers 41 to 54 BPM. "Largo" means wide or broad, and the marking is really an instruction about space: enough air around each note that the player has room to shape it. It shows up in slow movements of concertos and sonatas, in chorales, and anywhere a melody needs to be heard as a line rather than a sequence of attacks.
Largo in classical music
- •Deliberately spacious, giving each note room to decay before the next
- •Frequent in the second movements of concertos and sonatas
- •Suits long singable lines — think sustained melody rather than figuration
- •Often paired with expressive markings like cantabile or espressivo
- •Demands steady, unhurried bow control and a stable hand on string instruments
Famous pieces in Largo
Symphony No. 3 "Eroica" (2nd mvt. — Marcia funebre)
Ludwig van Beethoven (1804)
A dark, processional Largo that refuses to hurry.
Canon in D (Pachelbel)
Johann Pachelbel (1680)
The most widely recognised Largo in popular culture.
Rhapsody in Blue (opening)
George Gershwin (1924)
A slow bluesy introduction that establishes the whole piece.
Try the Largo metronome
Try Largo here — set to 48 BPM, limited to 41–54 BPM for this marking.
How to practise at Largo
Largo rewards patience. Practise here with heavy subdivision so the pulse stays steady rather than stretching. Keep the bow moving even when the dynamic is low — a silent bow change sounds like a dropped note at this tempo. On piano, resist the urge to fill the space; let the silence between phrases be as considered as the phrases themselves.
Related markings
Questions
Is Largo slower than Adagio?
No. Largo (41–54 BPM) is slightly slower than Adagio (65–72 BPM).
What does Largo mean?
Largo means broad or wide — a tempo that leaves generous space around each note.
What is Largo usually played at?
Most often 44 to 52 BPM, with the very slowest performances edging toward 40.
Is Largo easy to play?
It is less about difficulty than patience. The challenge is staying steady and expressive at a tempo where mistakes have nowhere to hide.
All markings
Browse every Italian tempo marking from Larghissimo to Ultra Presto: