TL;DR

Add "X BPM" or tempo words like "slow tempo," "mid-tempo," "uptempo" to your style prompt
Lo-fi: 70-90, Pop: 100-130, House: 120-130, Trap: 130-170, DnB: 170-180
When in doubt, use the genre name — Suno knows default tempos for most genres

120 BPM, mid-tempo, steady groove

Suno BPM & Tempo Guide: The Right Speed for Every Genre

Tempo is one of the most impactful and least-understood controls in Suno. The wrong BPM turns a dance track into a ballad or makes a chill song feel frantic. Here's the definitive reference for what BPM to use for every genre, plus how to control tempo in your Suno prompts.

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Copy/Paste Prompts

Slow Ballad (60-80 BPM)

slow ballad, 70 BPM, gentle tempo, piano-driven, emotional, intimate, rubato feel, expressive timing

Mid-Tempo Pop (100-120 BPM)

pop, 110 BPM, mid-tempo groove, steady beat, catchy, radio-ready, four-on-the-floor, singable tempo

Dance/House (120-130 BPM)

house music, 128 BPM, four-on-the-floor, dance floor ready, steady groove, driving tempo, energetic

Trap (140-160 BPM)

trap, 145 BPM, half-time feel, heavy 808s, hi-hat rolls, aggressive, hard-hitting, modern hip-hop tempo

Drum & Bass (170-180 BPM)

drum and bass, 174 BPM, fast breakbeat, rolling bass, high energy, jungle influence, intense, driving

Common Mistakes

Not specifying tempo at all: Without BPM guidance, Suno picks a tempo that may not match your genre. A house track at 90 BPM sounds wrong. Always include tempo direction.
Using exact BPM for organic genres: Jazz, folk, and classical often have flexible tempo. Use "rubato," "free tempo," or "relaxed timing" instead of rigid BPM numbers.
Wrong BPM for the genre: Trap at 100 BPM sounds like R&B. DnB at 120 sounds like house. Each genre has a natural tempo range — use the reference table below.
Confusing half-time and double-time: Trap is often 140-160 BPM but FEELS like 70-80 because of the half-time drum pattern. Specify "half-time feel" to get this right.
Putting BPM in lyrics instead of style: BPM should go in your style prompt, not in the lyrics section. Suno reads style prompts for production direction.

Quick Fixes

Problem	Fix
`Track too fast for the mood`	Add explicit BPM: "80 BPM, slow tempo" or use tempo words: "slow, relaxed, laid-back groove"
`Track too slow for a dance genre`	Add "128 BPM, uptempo, driving, dance floor energy" to push the tempo up
`Tempo fluctuates within the song`	Add "steady tempo, consistent BPM, metronomic" to keep timing locked
`Trap beat doesn't feel right`	Add "half-time feel, 145 BPM" — trap drums play at half speed while hi-hats run fast
`Song drags despite correct BPM`	Energy affects perceived tempo. Add "energetic, driving, forward momentum" to make it feel faster at the same BPM

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I set BPM in Suno?

Add the BPM number directly in your style prompt: "120 BPM" or "128 BPM." You can also use tempo words: "slow tempo" (60-80), "mid-tempo" (90-120), "uptempo" (120-140), "fast" (140+). Suno interprets both numeric BPM values and descriptive tempo terms. For most accuracy, use the specific BPM number for your target genre.

What BPM should I use for each genre?

Key reference: Lo-fi hip-hop: 70-90 BPM. R&B: 80-110. Pop: 100-130. House/techno: 120-135. Reggaeton: 90-100. Trap: 130-170 (half-time feel). Dubstep: 140 (half-time). Drum & bass: 170-180. Phonk: 130-140. Country: 100-130. Rock: 110-140. Metal: 120-180+. Jazz: 80-200 (varies widely). Classical: flexible. These are ranges — pick a specific number within the range.

What is half-time feel and when should I use it?

Half-time feel means the drums play at half the tempo while everything else stays at full speed. It's essential for trap (drums at ~72 BPM, hi-hats at ~145 BPM) and dubstep. Add "half-time feel" or "half-time drums" to your prompt alongside the full BPM. This creates that heavy, head-nodding groove that defines modern hip-hop and bass music.

Can I change tempo mid-song in Suno?

Suno doesn't reliably support tempo changes within a single generation. For songs that need tempo shifts (like a ballad that builds to an uptempo section), your best approach is to generate sections separately at different BPMs and splice them together in a DAW. Within a single prompt, stick to one tempo for consistent results.

Does the genre name automatically set the right BPM?

Mostly yes. Saying "house music" tends to give you 120-128 BPM, "drum and bass" gives 170-180, "lo-fi hip-hop" gives 70-90. But Suno isn't always accurate, especially for less common genres. Adding an explicit BPM ensures you get the right tempo. When in doubt, specify both: "house music, 128 BPM" for maximum control.

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