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