Genre BPM chart
A quick-reference table of typical tempos for more than 30 DJ genres, plus how to mix between genres with very different speeds using halftime, doubletime and transitions.
How to read this chart
BPM stands for beats per minute. Every genre has a usual tempo range, which helps you find tracks that mix easily and plan the energy of a set. These ranges are typical, not strict. Producers often break them, and genres change over time. For definitions of each style, see genres A to Z.
Typical tempos by genre
| Genre | Typical BPM |
|---|---|
| Reggae and dub | 60 to 90 |
| Downtempo | 80 to 110 |
| Hip-hop | 85 to 100 |
| Reggaeton | 88 to 100 |
| Afrobeats | 95 to 115 |
| Moombahton | 105 to 110 |
| Amapiano | 110 to 115 |
| Disco | 110 to 130 |
| Deep house | 115 to 124 |
| Nu-disco | 115 to 125 |
| Afro house | 118 to 125 |
| House | 118 to 130 |
| Melodic techno | 120 to 126 |
| Tech house | 122 to 128 |
| Progressive house | 120 to 128 |
| Big room | 126 to 130 |
| Techno | 125 to 140 |
| UK garage and 2-step | 130 to 135 |
| Jersey club | 130 to 140 |
| Trance | 130 to 140 |
| Dubstep | About 140 (halftime feel) |
| Grime | About 140 |
| Psytrance | 140 to 148 |
| Hard techno | 145 to 160 |
| Hardstyle | About 150 |
| Soca | 150 to 160 |
| Footwork | About 160 |
| Jungle | 160 to 170 |
| Drum and bass | 170 to 175 |
Halftime and doubletime
Some genres line up even though their BPM numbers look far apart. A track at 87 BPM has the same pulse as one at 174 BPM, felt at half speed. This is why:
- Hip-hop and drum and bass can mix together: 87 x 2 = 174.
- Dubstep at 140 pairs naturally with grime and UK drill at 140.
- Trap is often described as halftime, so a 140 BPM trap beat feels like 70.
Learn the math in BPM and tempo.
How far can you push the pitch?
Most DJ equipment lets you change tempo by a percentage. Small changes are almost unnoticeable; large ones can sound unnatural, especially on vocals.
| Pitch change | Effect |
|---|---|
| Up to about 3% | Usually sounds natural |
| 3 to 6% | Noticeable on vocals without key lock |
| 6 to 10% | Clearly faster or slower; key lock can sound artificial |
| Over 10% | Use a transition instead |
With key lock off, a change of about 6% shifts the pitch by roughly one semitone. See pitch and key.
Moving between tempo zones
To change tempo without a jarring jump:
- Ride the pitch gradually over several tracks, 1 to 2 BPM at a time.
- Use a breakdown or acapella as a bridge: when there is no beat, the crowd will not notice the tempo change.
- Echo out the outgoing track and drop the new one on the downbeat.
- Use halftime or doubletime relationships.
- Cut on a strong phrase boundary. See transitions.
Using BPM to plan a set
Many DJs start a set slower and build tempo and energy over time, then bring it down at the end. A typical club warm-up might sit at the low end of a genre's range and rise a few BPM over each hour. See building a set.
Write the BPM and key in your track comments or tags. Your software can analyze them, but double-check by ear, because detection can get halftime and doubletime wrong.
