The world of electronic music contains many subset genres, ranging from hip hop to electro to dubstep to drum and bass, and many more. Tempo is one of the stylistic differences between these electronic music genres, and it can be worth considering how tempo conventions can influence music production and the beat making process.

To measure the tempo of a song we use BPM, which stands for “Beats Per Minute.” Typically, the higher the BPM, the more energetic and upbeat the song will be. Slower BPMs generally indicate a more mellow vibe. Your choice of BPM for a track can significantly alter the mood of your composition. In this article, we’ll look at the best tempos for EDM beats in different genres, as well as some considerations for mixing music with different tempos.

In this piece you’ll learn:

• How tempo influences the vibe of a track

• Specific BPMs for popular EDM genres

• Considerations for mixing songs with different tempos

Want to follow along in your DAW?

Try the concepts discussed in this article with iZotope’s Music Production Suite Pro membership or Music Production Suite 5.2 with music plug-ins and resources to help you deliver the highest-quality sound every time. 

Tempo helps set the mood

To demonstrate how much of an effect tempo has on the mood of a piece of music, let’s look at an example. I used RX to adjust this percussion loop’s tempo from 60 BPM to 120 BPM.

Here’s the original loop at 60 BPM:

And here’s the same loop sped up to 120 BPM:

Notice how changing the BPM completely altered the feel of the beat? If you’re aiming for a specific vibe in your music, it helps to choose an appropriate tempo to achieve the right mood.

Common tempos for EDM genres

Not every track produced within a genre is exactly the same tempo, but certain genres do have typical tempo ranges that producers will often align with when they make beats. Below is a list of some common electronic music genres and the tempos that are typically associated with each:

Keeping a track within certain tempos not only helps the audience connect with a certain type of rhythmic excitement they enjoy, but can also help DJs beat match and construct sets and transitions. If you want to make it easy for DJs to spin your tracks, it definitely helps to stick to the tempo guidelines of your genre.

Tips for mixing songs with different tempos

In quick or slow tempos, the kick drum reinforces the tempo. It's critical that nothing gets in its way. Use Neutron's Masking Meter to define your instruments and keep your low end clean and clear.

When you use Neutron on two or more instrument tracks in your DAW, Masking Meter uses inter-plugin communication to highlight areas in the EQ where your instruments may be clashing. This allows you to make intelligent EQ decisions to make sure each instrument can be heard clearly.

Songs with slower tempos might need a little bit of extra ambience to fill in the space between notes. Since notes are more spaced out when the tempo is slower, it can often leave a lot of “empty space” that may sound unnatural in your mix. For songs with a lower BPM, you can use a reverb plugin like Neoverb to increase the amount of ambience on your instrument tracks.

Modulating the tempo

Although it’s best to stick within the tempo range of your desired genre, it’s not uncommon to change the BPM slightly throughout a song. Using automation to modulate the tempo over time can help breathe extra life into your track. For example, increasing the BPM slightly during a build will add more energy and hype.

Be careful, though. When you automate your tempo, you’ll want to make sure any delay effect plug-ins you’re using are tempo-synced to avoid any weirdness. Plug-ins like Nectar are automatically set to stay synced to the tempo of your DAW. That way, any echoes stay right in time with the rhythm of your track, even if you modulate the tempo.

Start experimenting with tempo on your tracks

Tempo has a huge effect on the overall vibe of a track, which is why different genres call for specific tempo ranges. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t experiment and push the boundaries to achieve the sound you’re looking for. Try playing with the tempo of your own tracks to see the difference it makes.

If you want access to any of the plug-ins mentioned in this article, start your free trial of a Music Production Suite Pro membership or get your copy of Music Production Suite 5.2. You'll get access to RX, Neutron, Neoverb, Nectar, and several other plug-ins to help you set the perfect tempo and achieve the desired sound for your EDM production.