Have you ever experienced that moment in your DAW wondering, "What BPM should I use?"

It’s a common situation, as this is one of the first decisions you make when producing music. And for electronic music, it’s one of the most important. 

While each genre has its traditional tempo sweet spots, the boundaries between styles are blurring, and producers are pushing tempo conventions in exciting new directions.

With that said, in some genres, you’ll want to produce music in the accepted tempo range to make it mixable by DJs. Many genres are defined by their BPM. Dubstep at 170 BPM isn’t dubstep. drum n’ bass at 120 BPM isn’t drum n’ bass, and so on. 

In this guide, we'll break down the typical BPM ranges across genres, explore why certain tempos are a baseline in some genres, and help you make decisions about your tracks. 

Whether you're crafting boom-bap beats or cooking up club bangers, we've got you covered!

What is BPM? What About Tempo?

Tempo is the speed of music. And while classical musicians use Italian terms like "allegro" and "andante" to describe it, modern producers work with BPM, or beats per minute.

BPM is exactly what it sounds like – a measure of how many beats occur in one minute of music. Think of it as tempo turned into an exact number. While "moderately fast" is open to interpretation, 126 BPM is specific and measurable.

It’s simple enough on paper, but choosing the right BPM for your music can be challenging.

Think about two hip-hop tracks – one at 85 BPM and another at 95 BPM. On paper, that's just a 10 BPM difference. But in practice? It's the difference between a laid-back J Dilla groove and a speedy rap track. 

Go on YouTube and speed up a track you know well by 0.1x (10%) – even that will produce a very noticeable difference. 

When it comes to controlling tempo, digital tools have made it more flexible than ever. You can stretch and warp samples to any speed, automate tempo changes mid-song or even have different elements of your track running at different BPMs.

However, understanding the core tempo ranges for different styles is still essential – both for making tracks that feel "right" and for knowing exactly how and when to break conventions.

Let's get into the specifics of what BPM works for different genres, starting with one of the most tempo-diverse styles out there: hip-hop.

What BPM for Hip-Hop?

Hip-hop has one of the widest tempo ranges in electronic music.

If you're looking for that classic hip-hop sweet spot, you'll find most tracks sitting between 85-95 BPM.

This range evolved naturally from the funk and soul records early hip-hop producers sampled. Curiously, though, if you listen to pioneers like DJ Kool Herc and Afrika Bambaata, their beats are often much quicker at 100 BPM or faster – perfect for breakdancing.

Today's hip-hop spans way beyond traditional boundaries:

• Trap-influenced hip-hop and grime or drill: 130-140 BPM (usually with a half-time feel)
• Old-school breaks: 110 to 120 BPM
• West Coast G-funk: 90-100 BPM
• Modern boom bap: 85-95 BPM
• Southern/screwed: 60-70 BPM

Artists like J Cole and Kendrick Lamar frequently work in the traditional range, while some are pushing towards faster trap tempos. Grime and drill are traditionally “140” genres with half-time beats. 

The key with hip-hop tempo isn't just the BPM – it's how you use it. A 90 BPM track can feel totally different depending on whether you program your drums on-grid or give them that signature loose, swung feel that defines so much classic hip-hop.

What BPM for Trap?

Trap runs at 130 to 145 BPM.

While the actual beat feels slower due to its half-time feel, 130 to 140 is the standard you'll find across the genre.

The hi-hats run double or triple time, creating those rapid-fire rolls that give trap its energy, while the underlying beat keeps things heavy and slow.

The half-time feel is vital to trap. While it runs 130 to 140 BPM, the main drums play a half-time pattern, making the beat feel like it's at 65 to 70 BPM.

However, producing at 130 to 140 BPM (rather than 65 to 70 BPM) gives you better precision for programming those fast hi-hat rolls and detailed patterns that define the genre.

What BPM for Dubstep?

Like trap, dubstep has a clear standard: 140 BPM.

This tempo emerged from multiple influences – UK garage, dub reggae, and dancehall all played their part in defining dubstep's signature speed. 

Dubstep often uses a similar half-time, where the main beat hits at 70 BPM, but you can get techno-style dubstep with four-to-the-floor grooves, too. 

You might occasionally find tracks at 135 to 145, but 140 is where dubstep usually lives.

What BPM for Drum & Bass and Jungle?

DnB and jungle typically run between 170-180 BPM, with 172 to 176 being the sweet spots that producers gravitate towards.

Both genres share this tempo range because they evolved together. Jungle emerged in the early '90s, characterized by its chopped breakbeats and heavy bass, while DnB developed as a more polished, technical form of jungle's raw energy.

The rapid tempo is essential for those signature rolling breakbeats, while the basslines often move at half-time to create that classic tension between fast drums and slower bass movements. 

Here’s something interesting though: DnB can also be half-time, giving it a dubstep vibe while mixing into DnB setlists. 

Half-time DnB (produced at 80 to 88 BPM) often sounds like a mash-up of trap and Dubstep. 

What BPM for House Music?

House music centers around 120-128 BPM, with most modern house tracks sitting between 124-128.

House music's groove comes from its straight-ahead four-to-the-floor beat – no half-time elements. 

Classic Chicago house often sounded around 120-122 BPM, while today's tracks usually move a bit faster. This slight increase in tempo helps maintain energy on modern sound systems while still keeping things groovy and danceable.

What BPM for Techno?

Techno typically runs between 125-140 BPM, with plenty of variation depending on the style. 

Modern techno often sits between 130-135 BPM, driven by that relentless four-to-the-floor kick drum. 

Some harder styles push up to 140, while deeper, more hypnotic techno might drop down closer to house tempo. You can also slow it down to 120 for some types of more ambient or minimal techno. 

There’s a lot of flexibility here, and yes, hard techno, e.g., HardTek, FrenchTek, and other ‘tek’ subgenres, can push way higher to 180 BPM and above. 

What BPM for Trance?

Trance typically operates between 135-145 BPM, though modern trance often pushes towards the higher end of that range.

Like house and techno, trance is built on that four-to-the-floor foundation. But where house grooves at 125 and techno varies widely, trance needs a steady, faster tempo to drive its signature rolling basslines and euphoric builds. 

The higher BPM creates the perfect framework for those long, arcing melodies and intense climaxes that define the genre.

While classic trance from the late '90s might sit around 135-138 BPM, modern trance pushes 140 or higher. This increased tempo helps deliver the intensity that modern trance crowds expect, especially during peak-time sets.

What BPM for Afrobeats?

Afrobeats typically runs between 105 and 115 BPM, with many tracks produced at 107 and 108 BPM.

Although the tempo is slower than that of house music, Afrobeats maintains its infectious energy through complex polyrhythms and syncopated percussion patterns. This moderate tempo allows space for complex drum arrangements while keeping the groove danceable and accessible.

The tempo also perfectly suits the genre's vocal stylings – giving artists room to weave between singing and rap while maintaining that signature bounce. 

What BPM for Other Genres?

Here's a rundown of other electronic and dance music tempos:

• BPM for 2-Step: 130-138 BPM
• BPM for Amapiano: 105-115 BPM
• BPM for Ambient: Variable (typically 40-80 BPM)
• BPM for Baltimore Club: 130-135 BPM
• BPM for Big Room House: 126-130 BPM
• BPM for Breakcore: 180-240 BPM
• BPM for Downtempo / Chillout: 60-110 BPM
• BPM for Electro: 120-135 BPM
• BPM for Extratone: 800 BPM+ (yes, really)
• BPM for Footwork: 160 BPM
• BPM for Future Bass: 130-160 BPM
• BPM for Gabber: 160-220 BPM
• BPM for Glitch Hop: 100-110 BPM
• BPM for Gqom: 126-130 BPM
• BPM for Hard House: 150-170 BPM
• BPM for Hardstyle: 150 BPM
• BPM for Juke: 160 BPM
• BPM for Jungle Terror: 140-150 BPM
• BPM for Lofi Hip-Hop: 60-90 BPM
• BPM for Melodic Techno: 120-128 BPM
• BPM for Moombahton: 110 BPM
• BPM for Neurofunk: 172-176 BPM
• BPM for Progressive House: 122-132 BPM
• BPM for Psytrance: 138-145 BPM
• BPM for Speedcore: 250+ BPM
• BPM for Synthwave: 80-118 BPM
• BPM for UK Bassline: 130-140 BPM
• BPM for UK Garage: 130-135 BPM

Remember though – while these are typical ranges, every genre has its outliers and experimenters who push beyond these boundaries.

Final Verdict

The key takeaway here? While knowing the "standard" BPM is important (especially for DJs), these aren't rigid rules. These numbers exist because they work, but some of the most interesting tracks push those boundaries.

Starting with standard tempos makes sense because they're tried and true. For trap production, 140 BPM just works. But some tracks demand something different, and that's part of the creative process.

Ready to experiment with tempo? Sample Focus lets producers sort sounds by BPM, making it easy to find samples that slot right into any project. Everything's key-labeled too – which is pretty handy!

Good luck and happy producing!