Dubstep BPM Range
Typical midpoint: 140 BPM (Allegro) — 429 ms per beat
About Dubstep Tempo
Dubstep is typically produced at 138-142 BPM but played at a half-time feel, making it feel closer to 70 BPM perceptually. The genre emerged from South London in the early 2000s — pioneered by Skream, Benga, and Digital Mystikz — blending UK garage with dub influences. American "brostep" pushed the genre into heavier wobble bass territory in the early 2010s through artists like Skrillex and Excision.
Characteristics
- Half-time rhythmic feel despite faster BPM
- Wobble bass and heavy sub-bass emphasis
- Syncopated snare patterns on beat 3
- Dark, atmospheric sound design
Dubstep Subgenre BPMs
| Subgenre | BPM Range | Note |
|---|---|---|
| UK Dubstep | 138-140 | Original sound: dub-influenced, sub-heavy |
| Brostep | 140-142 | Aggressive mid-range bass, festival-ready |
| Riddim | 140-142 | Triplet-based bass, minimal percussion |
| Deep Dubstep | 138-140 | Spacious, meditative, sub-focused |
| Tearout | 140-142 | Aggressive, distorted growls |
Example Dubstep Songs and Their BPMs
| Song | Artist | BPM |
|---|---|---|
| Midnight Request Line | Skream | 138 |
| Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites | Skrillex | 140 |
| Cockney Thug | Rusko | 140 |
| Anti-War Dub | Digital Mystikz | 140 |
BPM values are approximate and may vary based on the version or remix. Use our tap tempo tool to verify any track.
Production Tip
140 BPM is industry standard. Place the snare on beat 3 (not beats 2 and 4) for the half-time pocket. LFO-modulated bass at 1/4 or 1/8 note rates creates the wobble.
Want to check if your track matches the typical Dubstep tempo?
Use the Tap Tempo ToolRelated Genres
Built by the team behind