Grave

Grave is a very slow, weighty tempo marking. A performer gives each beat space and keeps the pulse moving beneath the long notes. The marking is normally printed above the staff at the start of a piece or a new section. It guides the performer until another tempo instruction changes it.

The 40 BPM example gives you a point to try, not an official definition. Italian tempo words cover a range, and published charts do not agree on exact boundaries. If a score specifies a note value and metronome number, such as quarter note = 40, that gives a measurable pulse.

A four-beat phrase at 40 BPM takes six seconds. Count through its rests instead of letting them become longer than the sounding beats.

Grave also asks for a serious manner. To hear the difference from Largo, keep the same four notes and pace, then give Grave firmer attacks and more weight. The word describes character as well as speed. For a direct A/B test, use the same four notes at the example pace and at the pace suggested on the Largo page. Listen for the distance between the main beats, not just the number of notes you play.