Looking to make a Synthwave song but you're not sure what the tempo should be?
I examined the tempos of 50 different Synthwave songs to find out what I could learn, and here is the data:
I used Tunebat.com to find the BPMs of these songs.
Most Synthwave Songs are between 80 and 140 BPM. If you want a dreamier and slower song, shoot for between 80-120 BPM, but if you want something more upbeat, feel free to make your track between 128-168 BPM.
Obviously, that is a pretty big range, so it's safe to say it doesn't really matter what BPM you make your Synthwave song. It just depends what kind of Synthwave vibe you're going for, as there is a lot of diversity in the genre.
What Is The Average BPM of A Synthwave Song?
From the 50 songs I examined, I found the average tempo to be 124 BPM, with the Median being 125 BPM.
So if you're looking for a sweet spot to aim for as far as tempo goes, you can't go wrong with anything around 125 BPM.
What Is The Lowest Tempo Of A Synthwave Song?
Of the 50 songs I researched, I didn't find a single song below 86 BPM (Tech Noir by Gunship). All the other songs were at least 90 BPM or higher. (Although if you read below you'll find that this is a little misleading).
So while Synthwave can have a floor below 90 BPM, it seems like most songs stay above this threshold...at least until we dig a little deeper...
What Is The Highest Tempo Of A Synthwave Song?
The highest tempo I found was a whopping 174 BPM, which was City Hunter by Sebastian Gampl.
Not sure if this song was a reference to the great Korean TV show with same name, but if so, sweet!
While this song may be 174 BPM, and is certainly upbeat, it doesn't feel like a crazy fast song. In fact, I found myself head-bobbing along at the tempo of 87 BPM, which is half the listed tempo on Tunebat.
As you probably know, cutting a tempo in half is really just the same tempo, it just depends on which notes you're counting for the beat.
The second fastest BPM song was Static by Timecop1983.
However, like City Hunter, this song has you head-bobbing along with the kick drum at 85 BPM. Definitely a slower feeling song.
The first truly fast-feeling song of the 50 that I examined was Never Stop by FM-84 featuring Ollie Wride (a truly spectacular song by the way).
This song clocks in at 168, and you can definitely find your self grooving along at that pace thanks to the driving bass and drums.
50 Synthwave Song Tempos Examined
Curious to see the wide range of song tempos that can be found in Synthwave?
Check out this list of 50 different Synthwave songs and their tempos:
Song Name | BPM |
|---|---|
Nightcall by Kavinsky | 92 |
Running In The Night by FM-84 | 133 |
Kids by The Midnight | 140 |
Run Away With Me by Moonrunner83 | 135 |
NASA by Futurecop! | 126 |
Tonight by Timecop1983 | 90 |
Georgetown by The Bad Dreamers | 122 |
New Cydonia by Starcadian | 94 |
A Real Hero by Electric Youth | 112 |
Waiting On The Summer by VHS Collection | 105 |
City In The Sea by Andromeda Coast | 99 |
Crystal Ships by Michael Oakley | 110 |
By Your Side by The Runaway Club | 126 |
Adrift by Dance With The Dead | 95 |
Modern Love by Kristine | 148 |
Radio by Le Cassette | 116 |
Sanfransokyo Girl by Satellite Young | 131 |
Sky High by D/A/D | 120 |
Love Someone by DWNTWN | 140 |
Tiger Teeth by Walk The Moon | 105 |
We Lost by Anoraak | 90 |
Inhale by New Arcades | 144 |
Forever In Your Heartbeat by Fear Of Tigers | 157 |
This Whole Nothing by Color Theory | 140 |
Magic by FM Attack | 128 |
Jetpacks by Von Kaiser | 110 |
Can't Stop Falling In Love by W O L F C L U B | 100 |
Tech Noir by Gunship | 86 |
Stars of the Night by Dynatron | 115 |
Automatic Call by NINA | 117 |
Runaway by LeBrock | 130 |
Bad Dream Baby by September 87 | 138 |
'85 Again (feat. Miss K) by Robert Parker | 125 |
Levitate by Kalax | 95 |
Le Mirage by Dana Jean Phoenix | 147 |
Sweet Nothings by Robert Parker | 135 |
Nomad City by Phaserland | 133 |
Stranger Love by Sunglasses Kid | 88 |
Midnight Run by Sebastian Gampl | 174 |
The Danger by Kristine | 160 |
Turn Back Time by Michael Oakley | 124 |
Sunset by The Midnight | 114 |
Days of Thunder by The Midnight | 163 |
Never Stop by FM-84 | 168 |
Static by Timecop1983 | 170 |
Dreams by Timecop1983 | 115 |
Transformers by Futurecop! | 130 |
We Belong by Futurecop! | 120 |
Teenage Color by College | 125 |
Desert King by Lghtnng | 125 |
The Mixdown: Conclusion
As you have probably already deduced from the data, you can create a Synthwave song in just about any tempos.
What’s more important to creating a Synthwave-sounding song is the arrangement and instrumentation.
If you want to write better songs, then grab my free Hit Creation Checklist, which includes a quick system for writing hit songs using the 9 elements that hit songwriters use again and again.
Write A Hit Song!
Click below to download my free Hit Creation checklist which demystifies the songwriting process and boils down the techniques hit songwriters use into a simple 9-step formula.
Even if you aren't interested in writing hits, you can still learn some valuable tips in this guide for how to make music that taps into human nature, and what we as people find enjoyable to listen to.
I hope you found this article on, What BPM is Synthwave Music In, helpful!
If you found it valuable I'd love for you to give it a share, and let me know in the comments below...
