Percussion Database Tempo Reference

Very often we classical musicians use classical music references to recall tempi. This is useful, but not accurate, since the same music may be performed at a variety of tempi depending on conductor preference. Pop songs are more reliable because the music is set in recording with a consistent tempo.

Below is a list of the common metronome tempi with well-known songs (classic rock, 80’s tunes, etc) of the same speed. Please comment if you have useful additions or corrections. Find your own at jog.fm

Enjoy!

40, (80, 160)

  • (Stevie Wonder, Pastime Paradise / Coolio, Gangsta’s Paradise)
  • (Foo Fighters, Everlong)
  • (Buena Vista Social Club – Chan Chan)
  • (Frozen Soundtrack, Do You Want To Build A Snowman)

44 (88, 176)

  • (Rush, Tom Sawyer)

48 (96, 192)

  • (Bob Dylan, Like a Rolling Stone)
  • (Bob Marley, I Shot The Sheriff)
  • (Ace of Base, The Sign)

50 (100, 200)

  • (Marvin Gaye, What’s Goin On)
  • (Bee Gees, Stayin’ Alive)
  • (Queen, Another One Bites the Dust)
  • (Semi Charmed Life, Third Eye Blind)
  • (Buffalo Springfield, For What It’s Worth)
  • (Crash Into Me, Dave Matthews)
  • (The Lion King Soundtrack, I Just Can’t Wait To Be King)
  • (Akon, Baby I’m Back)

52 (104, 208)

  • (Beastie Boys, Intergallactic)

56 (112)

  • (Michael Jackson – Bad)
  • (Queen – Under Pressure)

60 (120)

  • R. Kelly, I Believe I Can Fly
  • (Journey, Don’t Stop Believing)
  • (Madonna – Like a Virgin)
  • (Carley Rae Jepson, Call Me Maybe)
  • (Ke$ha, We R Who We R)
  • (Lady Gaga, I Like It Rough)

64

  • Alicia Keys – Falling

66 (132)

  • Bonnie Tyler, Total Eclipse of the Heart
  • (John Mayor, No Such Thing)

69 (138)

  • Destiny’s Child, Say My Name
  • Jay Z, Big Pimpin
  • Frozen Soundtrack, Let It Go
  • (Madonna, Dress You Up)
  • (Cheap Trick, Dream Police)
  • (Coldplay, Viva la Vida)

70 (140)

  • (Michael Jackson, Beat It)

72 (144)

  • Beatles, Let It Be
  • Beyonce, Diva
  • (Britney Spears, Toxic)

76 (152)

  • Oasis, Champagne Supernova
  • (Smashing Pumpkins, Tonight Tonight)
  • (Blues Traveler, Run-Around)

80, (40, 160)

  • Stevie Wonder, Pastime Paradise / Coolio, Gangsta’s Paradise
  • Foo Fighters, Everlong
  • Buena Vista Social Club – Chan Chan
  • Frozen Soundtrack, Do You Want To Build A Snowman

84 (168)

  • Def Leopard, Pour Some Sugar on Me
  • Zac Brown Band, Whatever It Is
  • Biz Markie, Just a Friend
  • (Aha, Take On Me)
  • (American Authors, Home)

88 (44, 176)

  • Rush, Tom Sawyer

90

  • U2, One
  • Cake, No Phone
  • Beyonce, If I Were a Boy

92 (184)

  • Oops I did it Again, Britney Spears
  • Guns and Roses, Paradise City
  • AC/DC- Back in Black
  • Letting Go, Sean Kingston
  • (Green Day – American Idiot)

96 (48, 192)

  • Bob Dylan, Like a Rolling Stone
  • Bob Marley, I Shot the Sheriff
  • Ace of Base, The Sign
  • Backstreet Boy, Shape of My Heart

98

  • Stevie Wonder, Superstition
  • Seal, Fly Like an Eagle

100 (50, 200)

  • Marvin Gaye, What’s Goin On
  • Bee Gees, Stayin’ Alive
  • Queen, Another One Bites the Dust
  • Semi Charmed Life, Third Eye Blind
  • Buffalo Springfield, For What It’s Worth
  • Crash Into Me, Dave Matthews
  • The Lion King Soundtrack, I Just Can’t Wait To Be King
  • Akon, Baby I’m Back

104 (52, 208)

  • Beastie Boys, Intergallactic
  • Bruno Mars, Nothin’ On You

108

  • Dave Matthews Band, Joy Ride
  • Rolling Stones, She’s a Rainbow

112 (56)

  • Michael Jackson – Bad
  • Queen – Under Pressure
  • Barenaked Ladies, One Week
  • Dave Matthews Band, Ants Marching

116

  • Michael Jackson, Billie Jean
  • Michael Jackson, Thriller
  • Michael Jackson, Black or White
  • Huey Lewis – Power of Love
  • Prince – Cream
  • The Rolling Stones, Sympathy for the Devil
  • Lady Gaga, Bad Romance

120 (60)

  • Journey, Don’t Stop Believing
  • Madonna, Like a Virgin
  • Carley Rae Jepson, Call Me Maybe
  • Gloria Gaynor, I Will Survive
  • Ke$ha, We R Who We R
  • Lady Gaga, I Like It Rough
  • (R. Kelly, I Believe I Can Fly)

124

  • Guns ‘n Roses – Sweet Child O’ Mine
  • Beck, Devil’s Haircut

126

  • It’s my Life, No Doubt
  • AC/DC- TNT
  • The Chemical Brothers – Get yourself high

130

  • Beatles – I Wanna Hold Your Hand
  • Metallica, Enter Sandman
  • BEAST, Freeze
  • Beyonce, Single Ladies
  • Katy Perry, I Kissed a Girl

132 (66)

  • John Mayor, No Such Thing
  • Sneaky Sound System, UFO
  • (Bonnie Tyler, Total Eclipse of the Heart)

138 (69)

  • Cheap Trick, Dream Police
  • Madonna, Dress You Up
  • Coldplay, Viva la Vida
  • (Jay Z, Big Pimpin’)
  • (Destiny’s Child, Say My Name)
  • (Frozen Soundtrack, Let It Go)

140 (70)

  • Michael Jackson, Beat It

144 (72)

  • Britney Spears, Toxic
  • (Beatles, Let It Be)
  • (Beyonce, Diva)

152 (76)

  • Smashing Pumpkins, Tonight Tonight
  • Blues Traveler, Run-Around
  • (Oasis, Champagne Supernova)

160 (40, 80)

  • (Stevie Wonder, Pastime Paradise / Coolio, Gangsta’s Paradise)
  • (Foo Fighters, Everlong)
  • (Buena Vista Social Club – Chan Chan)
  • (Frozen Soundtrack, Do You Want To Build A Snowman)

168 (84)

  • Aha, Take On Me
  • American Authors, Home
  • (Zac Brown Band, Whatever It Is)
  • (Def Leopard, Pour Some Sugar on Me)
  • (Biz Markie, Just a Friend)

176 (44, 88)

  • Rush, Tom Sawyer

184 (92)

  • Green Day – American Idiot
  • (Guns and Roses, Paradise City)
  • (Oops I did it Again, Britney Spears)
  • (AC/DC- Back in Black)
  • (Letting Go, Sean Kingston)

192 (48, 96)

  • (Bob Dylan, Like a Rolling Stone)
  • (Bob Marley, I Shot Rhe Sheriff)

200 (50, 100)

  • (Marvin Gaye, What’s Goin On)
  • (Bee Gees, Stayin’ Alive)
  • (Queen, Another One Bites the Dust)
  • (Semi Charmed Life, Third Eye Blind)
  • (Buffalo Springfield, For What It’s Worth)
  • (Crash Into Me, Dave Matthews)
  • (The Lion King Soundtrack, I Just Can’t Wait To Be King)
  • (Akon, Baby I’m Back)

208 (52, 104)

  • (Beastie Boys, Intergallactic)

Compiled by

  • Taylor Ambrosio-Wood
  • John Stapleton
  • Mya Pennington
  • WanNing Chen
  • Una Cheng
  • Nian Shee Yon
  • Tom Reinmann
  • Jim Benoit
  • Ethan Pani
  • Nate Tucker
  • Jeremy Barnett
  • Karli Mason
  • Mike Daley
  • Jonathan Hess
  • Ivan Wan
  • Sam Solomon