What 110 BPM sounds like
Tempo marking: Moderato · one beat every 545.5 ms
110 BPM is where music starts to feel upbeat without quite being dance-floor fast. It is the top of Moderato, the tempo of a brisk, purposeful walk. Funk, pop-rock and the slower end of disco all live in the 105–115 zone.
For practice it is a useful step between the comfortable 100 and the standard 120. Beats are 545 ms apart and sixteenths 136 ms, so busy sixteenth-note patterns start to demand relaxed technique rather than brute force.
Music at 110 BPM
- Funk: Tight sixteenth-note funk grooves often sit between 100 and 115 BPM.
- Pop-rock: Mid-tempo rock songs with a driving eighth-note feel.
- Disco and nu-disco: The slower end of disco, before it reaches the 120+ four-on-the-floor tempos.
- Latin pop: Upbeat Latin pop tracks frequently sit near 110 BPM.
Note lengths at 110 BPM
| Value | Duration | Per minute |
|---|---|---|
| Quarter note (1 beat) | 545.5 ms | 110 |
| Eighth note | 272.7 ms | 220 |
| Eighth-note triplet | 181.8 ms | 330 |
| Sixteenth note | 136.4 ms | 440 |
| Whole bar of 4/4 | 2181.8 ms | 27.5 |
How to practise at 110 BPM
- Drummers: play sixteenth-note hi-hats with your right hand only, then alternate hands, and compare how relaxed each version feels.
- Bass players: lock a syncopated funk line to the sixteenth subdivision and focus on note length, not just placement.
- Guitarists: practise muted sixteenth-note "chicka" strumming and aim for an even, percussive sound.
- Use 110 BPM as an intermediate tempo when moving a piece from 100 up to 120.
Suggested metronome settings
- Subdivision: sixteenth notes
- Accent: 4/4 straight
- Sound: click
110 BPM FAQ
What tempo marking is 110 BPM?
Moderato, at the faster end of the range and close to Allegretto.
Is 110 BPM a dance tempo?
It is on the edge. Funk and slower disco groove at 110, while most house and pop dance tracks sit at 120 or above.
How far apart are beats at 110 BPM?
About 545 milliseconds. Eighth notes are 273 ms apart and sixteenths 136 ms.