Can a song have multiple BPMs?
Yes. Many songs change tempo across sections, particularly in classical music, progressive rock, jazz, and modern hits with breakdowns. Producers can automate tempo changes in any DAW. Common examples include Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody," The Beatles' "Happiness Is a Warm Gun," and most classical symphonies.
Songs with intentional tempo changes
Songs change tempo all the time — the assumption that one song = one BPM only applies cleanly to dance music with a fixed grid. Outside of EDM, tempo changes are common.
Famous examples
| Song | Artist | Tempo behaviour |
|---|---|---|
| Bohemian Rhapsody | Queen | 4 distinct sections, each at a different BPM |
| Happiness Is a Warm Gun | The Beatles | 3 time signatures, multiple tempos |
| Stairway to Heaven | Led Zeppelin | Gradually accelerates throughout |
| Paranoid Android | Radiohead | Multiple sections at different BPMs |
| Most classical symphonies | Various | Distinct movements, often different tempos |
| Most film scores | Various | Tempo follows the on-screen action |
How producers automate tempo
Every modern DAW supports tempo automation:
Types of tempo change
- Step change: tempo jumps suddenly at a section boundary (verse to chorus).
- Gradual change: tempo accelerates or decelerates over time (accelerando / ritardando).
- Free tempo: rubato passages where there is no fixed BPM at all.
- Polyrhythmic: different layers play at different BPMs simultaneously.
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