Songs With 170 BPM: Fast Tempo Songs & Examples

Songs with 170 BPM include “Cruel Summer” by Taylor Swift, “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga, “STAY” by The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber, “Bad Blood” by Taylor Swift, and “L.A. Woman” by The Doors. Tracks near the target include “Lose Yourself” by Eminem and “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd at approximately 171 BPM. Exact readings can vary because the same pulse may be counted in half-time as 85 BPM.

At 170 beats per minute, a new beat arrives roughly every 0.353 seconds. That speed suits fast running, energetic cardio, drum-and-bass mixing, and demanding metronome practice. If the terminology is unfamiliar, this explanation of what BPM means covers how beats are counted and expressed.

What Are the Best Songs With 170 BPM?

The best-known songs reported at 170 BPM span pop, rock, electronic music, and hip-hop. The right choice depends on whether you want a clearly audible beat for exercise, a rapid rhythmic grid for mixing, or simply music that sits near the target tempo.

Song	Artist	Reported BPM	Broad style	Useful for
Cruel Summer	Taylor Swift	170	Pop	Running, cardio, energetic playlists
Bad Romance	Lady Gaga	170	Dance-pop	Cardio, dance practice
STAY	The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber	170	Pop	Running, interval training
Bad Blood	Taylor Swift	170	Pop	Workouts, cadence practice
L.A. Woman	The Doors	170	Rock	Fast rock playlists, instrument practice
Lose Yourself	Eminem	Approximately 171	Hip-hop	Running, focused workouts
Blinding Lights	The Weeknd	Approximately 171	Synth-pop	Running, cardio, dance

BPM databases can disagree by one or two beats because of rounding, live-feeling timing, different audio versions, or the way an algorithm interprets the pulse. A song listed at 169, 170, or 171 BPM can still work in a practical 170 BPM playlist. For a broader comparison, the collection of well-known songs by tempo shows how familiar tracks sit across different speed ranges.

Which tracks have the clearest beat?

“Bad Romance,” “STAY,” and “Blinding Lights” have prominent, regular rhythmic patterns that are comparatively easy to follow during movement. That makes them practical choices when you need the music to guide timing rather than merely create energy.

“L.A. Woman” feels different. Its rock instrumentation and performance character can make the pulse feel less mechanically fixed than a programmed pop production, even when a database reports the same numerical tempo. BPM tells you the rate of the pulse; it does not tell you how strongly every beat will be accented.

Should near-170 songs be included?

Songs at 169 or 171 BPM are close enough for most casual playlists, workouts, and listening sessions. The difference between 170 and 171 BPM is only one beat over an entire minute, so many listeners will not notice it without comparing the music against a metronome.

Precision matters more when synchronizing tracks, programming tempo-based effects, or running a controlled cadence session. In those situations, verify the exact recording rather than assuming that every album, radio, live, or remastered version shares one tempo.

What Does 170 BPM Feel Like?

170 BPM feels fast when each quarter-note pulse is counted, producing about 2.83 beats per second. The same music may feel moderately paced if the listener groups every two beats together and hears an 85 BPM half-time pulse.

Traditional Italian tempo labels provide only a rough comparison because their ranges are interpretive rather than universally fixed. A quarter-note pulse at 170 BPM generally sits in a very fast area associated with presto. The guide to the presto tempo marking explains how that term is used in musical notation and performance.

How fast is 170 BPM?

At 170 BPM:

• One beat lasts approximately 0.353 seconds.
• Four beats last approximately 1.41 seconds.
• A 4/4 measure lasts approximately 1.41 seconds when the quarter note is the beat.
• An eight-measure phrase lasts approximately 11.29 seconds at a perfectly steady tempo.

These figures assume that the stated beat is a quarter note. A BPM number needs musical context because the time signature and chosen beat unit affect how the rhythm is understood. This overview of beat and tempo differences explains why a beat is the recurring pulse while tempo describes its speed.

Why can a 170 BPM song sound like 85 BPM?

A 170 BPM track can sound like 85 BPM when the listener counts every second beat. This is called half-time perception: the underlying subdivisions continue quickly, but the main body pulse feels broader and slower.

Here is a simple worked example. Count a rapid sequence as “1, 2, 3, 4” at 170 BPM. Now keep the sequence unchanged but tap only on “1” and “3.” The tapping rate is 85 BPM because you are marking half as many pulses per minute.

The audio has not become slower; only the counted pulse has changed. This is why one database may return 85 BPM while another returns 170 BPM for the same recording. Both figures can describe a musically valid layer, but 170 BPM is the useful reading when you need the faster subdivision or want each rapid beat to guide your steps.

Which 170 BPM Songs Work Best for Different Activities?

For running, choose tracks with a clear pulse and stable energy. For workouts, prioritize phrasing and intensity. For DJ sets, confirm the exact tempo and rhythmic structure. For instrument practice, begin below 170 BPM and increase the metronome gradually until accuracy remains stable.

Running and cadence training

Music at 170 BPM can support a running cadence near 170 steps per minute if one footfall matches each beat. However, 170 BPM is not a universal ideal cadence. Height, pace, terrain, experience, and running mechanics all influence a comfortable step rate.

“STAY,” “Bad Romance,” and “Cruel Summer” are practical starting points because their rhythmic patterns are easy to locate. The guide to choosing music tempo for running explains the relationship between song BPM and step cadence in more detail.

Do not force an unnatural stride merely to stay synchronized with a song. Use the beat as an optional timing cue, and reduce pace or choose a different BPM if matching it causes tension, overstriding, or loss of control.

Cardio and high-intensity workouts

Fast pop tracks can help structure intervals because their repeated phrases create clear work periods. A coach or athlete might use one chorus as a hard effort and the following verse as active recovery, even though the track itself remains at approximately the same BPM.

BPM alone does not determine workout intensity. Loudness, rhythm density, bass accents, lyrical familiarity, and arrangement all affect perceived energy. A sparse 170 BPM track may feel calmer than a dense 150 BPM production.

DJ sets and drum-and-bass playlists

The 170 BPM area is closely associated with drum and bass, although individual styles and tracks spread above and below that figure. DJs should check the beat grid, downbeat position, and phrasing rather than trusting a single automated reading.

A track analyzed at 85 BPM may pair naturally with a 170 BPM track when its rhythmic grid is doubled. The detailed overview of drum-and-bass tempo covers the genre’s typical speed and the role of half-time perception.

When beatmatching, verify the exact version being played. Intros, live drums, tempo changes, edits, and remasters can create drift or produce a different result from the commonly published BPM.

Instrument and metronome practice

At 170 BPM, technical weaknesses become obvious. Uneven alternate picking, rushed drum fills, unclear articulation, and poor synchronization can hide at a moderate tempo but break down when the pulse accelerates.

Start at a tempo where the passage is clean, then increase in small steps. For example, practise accurately at 140 BPM before trying 145, 150, and higher. If accuracy collapses, return to the last controlled tempo instead of repeating mistakes at full speed. The guide on how to practise with a metronome provides a structured approach to tempo progression.

How Can You Check Whether a Song Is Really 170 BPM?

To check whether a song is really 170 BPM, tap or count along for at least 15 seconds, compare the result with a metronome, and test whether the detected number is a half-time reading. Use the exact recording you plan to play because different versions may not match.

Count the beats manually

Choose a section with a clear kick, snare, hi-hat, or repeated instrumental pulse. Count beats for 15 seconds and multiply the result by four. Counting about 42.5 beats in 15 seconds corresponds to 170 BPM, so a longer interval is easier when the result falls between whole numbers.

For better precision, count 85 beats and measure how many seconds have passed. At exactly 170 BPM, 85 beats occupy 30 seconds. Human reaction time still introduces some error, but the longer sample reduces the effect of a single mistimed tap.

Test half-time and double-time readings

If a tempo detector shows 85 BPM, double the result to get 170 BPM and listen again. Ask whether the faster pulse follows meaningful subdivisions in the drums, melody, or accompaniment. If a detector shows 340 BPM, halve it to reach 170 BPM.

The most useful number is not always the one an algorithm displays first. Choose the tempo level that matches the beat you need to follow, mix, notate, or practise.

Allow for tempo drift and database differences

Older recordings and live performances may not stay locked to one exact tempo. A track could average close to 170 BPM while moving slightly faster or slower across different sections. Automated tools may also round decimals or analyse a rhythmically ambiguous passage.

For a repeatable check, analyse a steady section, tap several times, compare the median result, and inspect the whole track for changes. The step-by-step guide to finding a song’s tempo explains both manual and software-assisted methods.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 170 BPM fast for a song?

Yes. A quarter-note pulse at 170 BPM is fast, delivering about 2.83 beats each second. The track may feel slower if its groove emphasizes an 85 BPM half-time pulse.

Is 170 BPM suitable for running?

170 BPM can suit runners who naturally move near 170 steps per minute, but it is not a universal target. Choose a cadence that remains comfortable and mechanically controlled rather than changing your stride solely to match the music.

Which genres commonly use approximately 170 BPM?

Drum and bass commonly occupies the area around 170 BPM, while pop, punk, rock, metal, and some hip-hop tracks can also be measured near that speed. In hip-hop and pop, the same groove may be labelled 85 BPM because of half-time counting.

Is 85 BPM the same as 170 BPM?

85 BPM and 170 BPM describe different pulse rates, but they can represent two counting levels within the same music. Counting every subdivision gives 170 BPM; counting every second pulse gives 85 BPM.

Why do BPM websites give different results for the same song?

BPM websites may choose different pulse levels, round decimal values differently, analyse different versions, or struggle with tempo drift and syncopation. Treat a listed BPM as a strong reference point, then verify the exact recording when precision matters.