Largo is an Italian tempo marking meaning “broad”. It is usually played at about 40–60 BPM. Largo asks for a broad, spacious sound at a very slow tempo, with room for every note to ring. The metronome on this page starts at 50 BPM, in the middle of the range.
How fast is Largo?
Largo is roughly 40–60 beats per minute. At 40 BPM one beat lasts 1,500 ms; at 60 BPM it lasts 1,000 ms. Reference books and metronome makers print slightly different ranges, so treat these as conventions rather than rules.
Beat lengths across the Largo range
Tempo
Quarter note
Eighth note
One bar of 4/4
40 BPM
1,500 ms
750 ms
6.00 s
50 BPM
1,200 ms
600 ms
4.80 s
60 BPM
1,000 ms
500 ms
4.00 s
What does Largo mean?
Largo translates as “broad”. Largo asks for a broad, spacious sound at a very slow tempo, with room for every note to ring.
Largo compared with neighbouring markings
Grave (25–45 BPM) is the next marking slower. Lento (40–60 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 Largo
Largo phrases are long, so breathing, bow length and sustain matter more than speed. Practise with eighth-note subdivisions until the space between beats feels even rather than empty.