keepthebeat
Tempos
About 174 BPM
174 BPM is the home of drum and bass. The genre settles at 170 to 174, and 174 has become its default count, fast enough that the breakbeats blur into a continuous rush. It sits in the Vivace range, close to three beats a second, near the ceiling before Presto.
Music at 174 BPM
174 BPM belongs to drum and bass and jungle, built on chopped, sped-up breakbeats over a rolling bassline. Liquid, neurofunk, and jump-up all sit at this tempo. Some footwork and hardcore tracks reach the same range, though 174 stays tied to drum and bass.
What 174 BPM Feels Like
Counted straight, 174 BPM runs close to three beats a second. Halve it to 87 for a relaxed mid-tempo pulse, the half-time feel a drum and bass bassline often follows while the drums race on top. Sixteenth-note subdivisions blur together at this speed, which is why producers build these patterns one hit at a time.
174 BPM FAQ
Is 174 BPM fast?
Yes. 174 BPM is fast, sitting near the top of the Vivace range. It is the standard tempo for drum and bass.
What kind of music is 174 BPM?
Drum and bass and jungle, including liquid, neurofunk, and jump-up, plus some footwork and hardcore.
What is 174 BPM in musical terms?
174 BPM falls in the Vivace range, meaning lively and brisk. It runs at close to three beats per second.