BPM by genre

Drum & Bass

Curated by se7en beatlab · updated September 2026

Electronic · 3 subgenres mapped

174 BPM typical

Range: 160–180 BPM

Drum & bass is one of the fastest mainstream genres, sitting at 170–178 BPM with 174 BPM as the standard. Despite the speed, the bassline often feels half-time (~87), which is what gives DnB its rolling weight.

Use this BPM as a starting point

Measure your own track before you export.

The free analyzer runs locally in your browser. Your audio is not uploaded.

Measure your track — free

Subgenres

Subgenre	Typical	Range
Liquid drum & bass	174	170–176
Neurofunk	174	172–178
Jungle	165	160–170

Production notes

The 'Amen break' and chopped breakbeats at 174 BPM are the core. Program a fast, syncopated drum pattern but write the sub-bass and melody in half-time so they breathe. Layer a clean sub with a mid-bass for translation on small speakers. Energy comes from the drum edit and the drop, not from clutter.

Typical structure

Intro (mixable beat) → build → drop (bass + full break) → breakdown → second drop → outro. Two-drop structure with DJ-friendly intros/outros.

FAQ

How many BPM is drum and bass?

Drum & bass is typically 170–178 BPM, with 174 BPM as the standard tempo.

Why does DnB feel slower than its BPM?

Because the bass and melody are usually written in half-time (~87 BPM) while the drums run at 174 BPM.

Related genres

More in this family

Your mix

See where your Drum & Bass track really sits in BPM

Open the analyzer

Sequencing Drum & Bass tracks? → DJ set planner (BPM, key & Camelot, printable)

Mix check

Run your Drum & Bass beat through The Button

Try the demo

Need a beat at this tempo?

Beats ready to license

Open the Beat Store

Release notes

Get software and plugin release news

Music Catalog, plugin releases and useful studio notes. Subscribe for availability and updates.

By subscribing, you agree to receive release news. Privacy policy