Adagietto is an Italian tempo marking meaning “rather at ease”. It is usually played at about 70–80 BPM. Adagietto is a little quicker and lighter than Adagio, while keeping the same relaxed character. The metronome on this page starts at 75 BPM, in the middle of the range.
How fast is Adagietto?
Adagietto is roughly 70–80 beats per minute. At 70 BPM one beat lasts 857 ms; at 80 BPM it lasts 750 ms. Reference books and metronome makers print slightly different ranges, so treat these as conventions rather than rules.
Beat lengths across the Adagietto range
Tempo
Quarter note
Eighth note
One bar of 4/4
70 BPM
857 ms
429 ms
3.43 s
75 BPM
800 ms
400 ms
3.20 s
80 BPM
750 ms
375 ms
3.00 s
What does Adagietto mean?
Adagietto translates as “rather at ease”. Adagietto is a little quicker and lighter than Adagio, while keeping the same relaxed character.
Adagietto compared with neighbouring markings
Adagio (66–76 BPM) is the next marking slower. Andante (76–108 BPM) is the next marking faster. Ranges overlap at the edges, which is why a tempo such as 120 BPM can be described as either Moderato or Allegro.
Practising at Adagietto
Practise Adagietto as you would Adagio, with slightly more forward motion. A drum groove in the mid 70s shows how much motion the tempo can carry.