What 90 BPM sounds like
Tempo marking: Andante · one beat every 666.7 ms
90 BPM is the classic hip-hop tempo. Golden-era boom-bap beats sit between 85 and 95 BPM, and 90 has become the shorthand for that head-nodding pace. It is also a natural tempo for reggae skanks, country shuffles and mid-tempo pop.
Musically it is the top of the Andante range: a brisk walk. Beats are 667 ms apart, so sixteenth notes (167 ms) are quick but still easy to place, which is why so much sample-based production works at this tempo.
Music at 90 BPM
- Boom-bap hip-hop: Classic 90s hip-hop drums and sample loops are most often between 85 and 95 BPM.
- Reggae: One-drop and rockers grooves commonly sit in the 75–95 BPM range.
- Country and blues shuffles: A shuffle at 90 BPM uses the triplet subdivision for its swing.
- Mid-tempo pop and R&B: Groove-based pop that sits between ballad and dance tempos.
Note lengths at 90 BPM
| Value | Duration | Per minute |
|---|---|---|
| Quarter note (1 beat) | 666.7 ms | 90 |
| Eighth note | 333.3 ms | 180 |
| Eighth-note triplet | 222.2 ms | 270 |
| Sixteenth note | 166.7 ms | 360 |
| Whole bar of 4/4 | 2666.7 ms | 22.5 |
How to practise at 90 BPM
- Drummers: practise the boom-bap kick-snare pattern with sixteenth-note hi-hats, then experiment with swinging the hats.
- For shuffles, switch the subdivision to triplets and play the first and third triplet of each beat.
- Bassists: walk quarter notes for eight bars, then switch to a syncopated eighth-note line; 90 BPM lets you hear the difference in feel.
- Rappers: 90 BPM is a comfortable tempo for practising double-time flows (sixteenth-note syllables).
Suggested metronome settings
- Subdivision: sixteenth notes (straight) or triplets (shuffle)
- Accent: 4/4 straight
- Sound: click
90 BPM FAQ
Why is 90 BPM associated with hip-hop?
Sampled drum breaks from funk and soul records often fell between 85 and 95 BPM, and that pace became the foundation of boom-bap production.
What tempo marking is 90 BPM?
Andante, at the faster end of the walking-tempo range.
How do I get a shuffle feel at 90 BPM?
Use the triplet subdivision and play on the first and third pulse of each triplet group, skipping the middle one.