What 180 BPM sounds like
Tempo marking: Presto · one beat every 333.3 ms
180 BPM is Presto, the very fast end of the tempo scale. It is the home tempo of drum & bass, which runs 170–180 BPM, and it is where thrash metal riffs and fast punk sit. At this speed a bar of 4/4 lasts 1.33 seconds and eighth notes are only 167 ms apart.
It is also a famous number outside music: 180 steps per minute is the cadence many running coaches recommend for efficient form. A 180 BPM click is a simple way to train that turnover.
Music at 180 BPM
- Drum & bass: Most drum & bass is produced at 170–180 BPM, usually felt in half time.
- Thrash and speed metal: Fast thrash riffs and double-kick sections commonly hit 180 BPM.
- Fast punk and hardcore: The upper end of punk tempos.
- Running cadence: 180 steps per minute is a widely used target cadence for distance runners.
Note lengths at 180 BPM
| Value | Duration | Per minute |
|---|---|---|
| Quarter note (1 beat) | 333.3 ms | 180 |
| Eighth note | 166.7 ms | 360 |
| Eighth-note triplet | 111.1 ms | 540 |
| Sixteenth note | 83.3 ms | 720 |
| Whole bar of 4/4 | 1333.3 ms | 45 |
How to practise at 180 BPM
- Feel it in half time: set the accent to beat 3 or count 90 BPM in your head and let the click fill in the eighths.
- Drummers: sixteenth-note double-kick at 180 BPM equals 720 strokes per minute, an advanced goal; start with eighths.
- Guitarists: downpicked eighth notes at 180 BPM are the classic thrash endurance test. Keep the wrist loose.
- Runners: match your footfalls to the click for one minute, rest, and repeat to train a 180 steps-per-minute cadence.
Suggested metronome settings
- Subdivision: quarter or eighth notes
- Accent: beat 3 for half-time genres, 4/4 straight for metal and punk
- Sound: click
180 BPM FAQ
Why is 180 steps per minute recommended for running?
A faster cadence with shorter strides reduces over-striding and impact. 180 is a common target, though the ideal varies by runner.
What tempo marking is 180 BPM?
Presto, which usually spans about 168 to 200 BPM.
What tempo is drum & bass?
Typically 170–180 BPM, with 174 being especially common, felt in half time with the snare on beat 3.