Music Tempos bpm (beats per minute)

The tempo of a tune and what to call it has been and will be a source ofconfusion and controversy. I hope this list and music samples helps sort itout. If you have a second hand on your watch and count along with each

tick, thats 60 beats per minute (bpm) or a fast ballad.

49 bpm..very slow ballad52 bpm..slow ballad55 bpm..ballad62 bpm..fast ballad70 bpm..swing ballad76 bpm..swing ballad86 bpm..medium slow100 bpm112 bpm123 bpmmedium131 bpmmedium140 bpmmedium148 bpm170 bpmmedium fast178 bpm188 bpm194 bpmmedium up/bright208 bpm222 bpm230 bpm245 bpmup270 bpm286 bpm314 bpmfaster than fast324 bpm

Its very important to understand that each tempo category, ballad, medium,and up, are broken down into three parts, slow, medium, and fast. Theseterms better describe how fast or slow your tune is to be played.

Music Tempos 49 bpm to 170 bpm

CD #1

149 bpmvery slow ballad..Wouldnt It Be Loverly Kitty Margolis / Charles Brown

252 bpmslow ballad.A House Is Not A Home Kellye Gray

352 bpm12/8 feel slow blues ballad.Stormy Monday Eva Cassidy

455 bpmballadIm Glad There Is You Carmen McRae

562 bpmballad..Embraceable You Ella Fitzgerald

670 bpmswing ballad.Teach Me Tonight Etta James

776 bpmswing ballad..Any Old Time Carmen McRae

886 bpmmedium slow..Small Day Tomorrow Kellye Gray

9100 bpmmedium shuffle..Love Me Like A Man Diana Krall

10112 bpmmediumOur Love Is Here To Stay Shirley Horn

11123 bpmmediumsurf & turf.3-2 Clave/Swing Just Squeeze Me Tierney Sutton

12131 bpmmedium.Come Dance With Me Shirley Horn

13140 bpm.medium jazz waltz..Waltz For Debby Tierney Sutton

14148 bpmmediumYou Stepped Out Of A Dream Shirley Horn

15170 bpmmedium fastCheek to Cheek Eva Cassidy

Music Tempos 178 to 328 bpmCD #2

1178 bpmmedium fast.Dont Let Me Lose This Dream Barbara Morrison

2188 bpmmedium fast..I Hear Music Carmen McRae

3194 bpm.medium up / bright.rumba / baion..Old Devil Moon Tierney Sutton

4208 bpmmedium up jazz waltz..Speak Low Kellye Gray

5222 bpmmedium up jazz waltzMy Romance Kitty Margolis

6230 bpmmedium upsurf and turf.Latin Jazz / Swing I Believe In You Kelly Gray

7245 bpmup..Anthropology Kitty Margolis

8270 bpmfast up.Billies Bounce Kelley Gray

9286 bpmfast upvoice and drums..Just You, Just Me Tierney Sutton

10314 bpmfast..Autumn Leaves Tierney Sutton

11324 bpmvery fast..Them There Eyes Anita ODay

12328 bpmvery very fast..You Do Something To Me Susannah McCorkle