keepthebeat
Tempos
About 170 BPM
170 BPM sits high in the Vivace range, fast and relentless. It is the signature tempo of drum and bass, where breakbeats fly past at close to three hits a second. The speed leaves little air between beats, so rhythms feel continuous and propulsive.
Music at 170 BPM
170 BPM is the standard for drum and bass and jungle, built on chopped breakbeats at full tilt. Footwork and juke sit nearby, and fast punk and thrash can reach this speed. The tempo rewards tight, machine-like timing.
What 170 BPM Feels Like
Counted straight, 170 BPM runs close to three beats a second. Halve it to 85 BPM for a relaxed mid-tempo pulse that reveals the groove inside a drum and bass break. Sixteenth-note subdivisions blur into a continuous roll, which is why these beats are often built one hit at a time.
170 BPM FAQ
Is 170 BPM fast?
Yes. 170 BPM sits high in the Vivace range and counts as fast, the standard tempo for drum and bass.
What kind of music is 170 BPM?
Drum and bass, jungle, footwork, and fast punk or thrash.
What is 170 BPM in musical terms?
170 BPM falls in the Vivace range, meaning lively and brisk. It runs at close to three beats per second.