Songs With 60 BPM: Examples of Slow Tempo Music

Songs with 60 BPM move at one beat per second, creating a slow, spacious pulse that is easy to count and follow. This tempo appears in ballads, R&B, rock, ambient music, and tracks that can also be interpreted as 120 BPM in double-time.

The list below includes songs commonly reported at 60 BPM or experienced with a clear 60 BPM half-time pulse. Because tempo databases and beat-detection systems sometimes choose different rhythmic levels, you may see a few of these tracks listed at 120 BPM elsewhere.

Songs With 60 BPM: Quick List

The following songs are useful starting points for building a slow-tempo playlist. Always check the specific recording, remix, live version, or remaster because different versions can have slightly different timing.

Song	Artist	Reported or usable tempo	Style	Tempo note
Birthday Sex	Jeremih	60 BPM	R&B	A slow, clearly spaced groove
Heart of Steel	Manowar	60 BPM	Heavy metal ballad	Reported at 60 BPM in 4/4
I Only Have Eyes for You	Art Garfunkel	About 60 BPM	Pop ballad	Soft pulse with flexible phrasing
Too Late	The Weeknd	60/120 BPM	Alternative R&B	Commonly analyzed at 120 BPM with a 60 BPM half-time feel
Congratulations	Mac Miller featuring Bilal	Around 60 BPM	Hip-hop/R&B	Relaxed, spacious beat
Sweet Caroline	Neil Diamond	Around 60 BPM feel	Pop	The perceived beat can depend on how you count it
My Girl	Otis Redding	Around 60 BPM feel	Soul	Suitable for a relaxed playlist, though databases may disagree
Love Is All	The Tallest Man on Earth	Around 60 BPM feel	Folk	A steady slow pulse beneath active strumming
Fire on Fire	Sam Smith	Around 60 BPM	Pop ballad	Slow vocal phrasing and broad beat spacing
Birds	Imagine Dragons	Around 60 BPM feel	Pop rock	Often heard with a slow half-time pulse

These values should be treated as practical tempo references rather than permanent labels. A recording’s beat can be counted at more than one rhythmic level, and automated analyzers do not always choose the same one.

To check a track that is not listed here, you can identify a song’s tempo online and compare the result with your own listening.

What Does 60 BPM Feel Like?

A tempo of 60 BPM produces one beat every second. Count “one, two, three, four” while allowing one full second between each number, and you are creating a 60 BPM pulse.

Musicians often describe this speed as slow or spacious, though harmony, instrumentation, dynamics, and subdivisions can make two 60 BPM songs feel very different.

Why 60 BPM Sounds Slow

At 60 BPM, each quarter-note beat lasts 1,000 milliseconds. That gives notes, chords, and vocal phrases more room to breathe than they would at 100, 120, or 140 BPM.

The slower spacing also makes early chord changes and uneven drum hits easier to hear, which is why slow metronome practice can be surprisingly challenging.

For a broader explanation of tempo measurement, see how beats per minute work.

Can a 60 BPM Song Still Feel Energetic?

Yes. A 60 BPM song can feel energetic when it contains active subdivisions, strong accents, dense percussion, rapid vocal rhythms, or distorted instruments.

A drummer can play eighth notes, sixteenth notes, or triplets over the slow pulse, making the surface feel busy. Tempo describes speed, not mood or intensity.

Why Do Some Songs Show Both 60 and 120 BPM?

A song may appear as both 60 and 120 BPM because listeners and software can count the same rhythm at different metric levels. The slower reading follows the broad pulse, while the faster reading counts twice as many beats.

Understanding Half-Time and Double-Time

Suppose a song has a kick and snare pattern that creates a strong pulse every second. You can count that pulse as 60 BPM:

1, 2, 3, 4

You can also count an extra beat halfway between each number:

1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and

The second method produces 120 counts per minute. The audio has not changed; only the counting level has. A 60 BPM half-time reading and a 120 BPM full-time reading may both be useful.

You can explore the distinction further in this guide to BPM and musical tempo.

Which BPM Should You Use?

Use the BPM that matches the beat you need to follow.

A drummer learning a slow backbeat may prefer 60 BPM, while a producer programming detailed hi-hats may prefer 120 BPM. Neither interpretation is automatically wrong.

How Can You Check Whether a Song Is 60 BPM?

You can verify a possible 60 BPM song by counting beats, tapping along, or comparing it with a metronome.

Count the Beats for 15 Seconds

Play the song and identify the strongest repeating pulse. Count the beats for 15 seconds, then multiply the total by four.

For example:

15 beats in 15 seconds × 4 = 60 BPM

If you count 30 smaller beats in the same period, you are probably hearing the 120 BPM double-time level.

For more counting methods, read the guide on measuring the BPM of a song.

Use Tap Tempo

Start the song, listen for the main pulse, and tap once on each beat. A tap-tempo counter calculates the average space between your taps and converts it into BPM.

Tap through several measures so one early or late tap has less effect. If the result alternates between 60 and 120 BPM, tap only on the larger pulse.

Compare the Song With a Metronome

Set an online metronome to 60 BPM and play it alongside the track. At the correct tempo, the clicks should repeatedly align with the main beat instead of gradually drifting away.

Live performances, older recordings, and songs with intentional tempo changes may drift slightly.

What Are 60 BPM Songs Useful For?

Songs at 60 BPM suit timing exercises, slow practice, relaxed playlists, and other activities that benefit from an easy-to-count pulse.

Instrument and Metronome Practice

A 60 BPM click is useful for practicing:

• Slow chord changes
• Scale accuracy
• Drum grooves
• Bass-note placement
• Vocal entrances
• Subdivision exercises

Try one note per click, then two, followed by four. The metronome stays at 60 BPM while the subdivisions become faster.

Once 60 BPM feels comfortable, compare it with songs around 70 BPM to experience a small but noticeable increase in pace.

Relaxed Listening and Slow Playlists

A 60 BPM playlist often feels unhurried. Ballads, mellow R&B, folk, ambient music, and slower rock can fit naturally. Still, a slow song may contain tense harmony, aggressive lyrics, or dramatic dynamics, so consider mood as well as tempo.

For a slightly more active listening pace, explore songs near 80 BPM.

Walking, Stretching, and Movement

A 60 BPM track gives you one clear pulse per second. For gentle movement, you might take one action on every beat. For a faster cadence, you can count two movements per beat and treat the same track as 120 BPM.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 60 BPM considered a slow tempo?

Yes. In most modern popular-music contexts, 60 BPM is considered slow. It creates one beat per second and leaves substantial space between quarter-note beats.

What popular songs are exactly 60 BPM?

“Birthday Sex” by Jeremih and “Heart of Steel” by Manowar are commonly reported at 60 BPM. Other tracks may sit close to 60 BPM or use a 60 BPM half-time feel, so results can vary by source and recording.

Why does a 60 BPM song sometimes appear as 120 BPM?

The same rhythm can be counted at two different levels. Counting the broad pulse gives 60 BPM, while counting twice as many subdivisions gives 120 BPM.

How many seconds are between beats at 60 BPM?

There is exactly one second between beats when the beat unit is a quarter note. The calculation is 60 seconds divided by 60 beats.

Can I use 60 BPM songs for metronome practice?

Yes. They are useful for practicing steady timing, slow chord changes, drum placement, scales, and rhythmic subdivisions. Slow practice can reveal timing problems that are harder to notice at faster tempos.

Are songs between 58 and 62 BPM close enough for a 60 BPM playlist?

Usually, yes. A difference of one or two BPM is subtle for casual listening. For precise practice, verify the exact recording.