Synthwave BPM: 80-115, Sweet Spot 100

Genre Guides

80-115BPM

Filter your crate to this range, then verify each track's beatgrid and Camelot key before you blend.

Practical target: 100 BPM
Tracks shown: 7 shown
Track spread: 86-147 BPM
Inside core range: 4 of 7
Below · above: 0 below · 3 above
Median · mean: 114 · 114 BPM
Sub-genres: 4 styles
Evidence: Limited but reviewed: 7 tracks, 4 core examples

Counts describe the reference tracks resolved on this page, not every record in the genre. Use the BPM that makes loops, cue points, and phrase markers behave cleanly.

Quick answer

What BPM is Synthwave?

A DJ tempo guide for Synthwave: where the core range sits, how its sub-genres split it, and 7 reference tracks spanning 86-147 BPM, separated into core, adjacent, and outlier records.

Synthwave typically runs 80 to 115 BPM, with 100 BPM as the practical DJ target. Vaporwave is the slowest at 60-90 BPM, while Darksynth reaches 90-130 BPM. Use the range to filter your crate, then verify each track's beatgrid and key before mixing.

DJ-ready reference
Printable
Methodology included

Reference tracks

Synthwave Reference Tracks

Resolved Synthwave tracks, verified against their beatgrids with real BPM, Camelot key, energy and length, separated by DJ fit. Click any row to open its full sonic profile.

#TrackKeyBPMNRGLenKey·BPM

Core Synthwave examples

4 inside 80-115 BPM

Tech Noir

Gunship, John Carpenter, Charlie Simpson

6B86624:576B86

Nightcall

Kavinsky

8A91874:188A91

Future Club

Perturbator

4A100964:494A100

Sunset

The Midnight

8B114715:278B114

Adjacent and outlier examples

3 outside core

Riot

Dance With the Dead

1B130883:471B130

Overdrive

Lazerhawk

3A133954:313A133

Turbo Killer

Carpenter Brut

4A147763:294A147

DJ fit notes

Riot: Above the 80-115 BPM core range; check whether it behaves better as halftime.
Overdrive: Above the 80-115 BPM core range; check whether it behaves better as halftime.
Turbo Killer: Above the 80-115 BPM core range; check whether it behaves better as halftime.

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Genre family

The Synthwave Family

Synthwave sits at 80–115 BPM as a core DJ range, with 100 BPM as a practical target for crate filtering and set planning. Vaporwave is the slowest at 60-90 BPM, while Darksynth reaches 90-130 BPM.

Synthwave BPM Reference

Synthwave: 80-115 BPM, typical 100 BPM.

Genre	BPM Range	Typical BPM	Notes
Synthwave	80-115	100	80s-inspired retro electronica: gated reverb drums, FM-synth pads, neon nostalgia. Kavinsky's Drive soundtrack era. The Midnight, FM-84.
Vaporwave	60-90	75	Slowed/chopped 80s/90s smooth-jazz/lounge samples. Macintosh Plus 'Floral Shoppe', Saint Pepsi. Internet-aesthetic adjacent.
Chillwave	80-110	95	Hazy, dreamy late-2000s indie-electronic: Washed Out, Toro y Moi, Neon Indian. Lo-fi pop with synth nostalgia.
Outrun	80-115	100	Highway/driving-themed synthwave subgenre: soundtrack-feel arpeggios and arena-rock drums. Mitch Murder, Lazerhawk, Miami Nights 1984.
Darksynth	90-130	110	Aggressive horror-tinged synthwave. Perturbator, Carpenter Brut, GosT. John Carpenter scoring DNA. Often crosses into metal-tempo.

vibesdj.io/dj-tools - BPM ranges are practical DJ references, not strict genre boundaries.

Synthwave

80-115BPM

50140

80s-inspired retro electronica: gated reverb drums, FM-synth pads, neon nostalgia. Kavinsky's Drive soundtrack era. The Midnight, FM-84.

80s synthsGated reverb drumsNeon nostalgiaDrive aesthetic

Sub-genre tempo spectrum

4 styles

5075100125

Vaporwave

60-90

Chillwave

80-110

Outrun

80-115

Darksynth

90-130

Reading the grid

How to Read Synthwave BPM in DJ Software

Synthwave is usually mixed around 80-115 BPM, with 100 BPM as a practical DJ target. The reference tracks on this page span 86-147 BPM, so use the grid that makes loops and phrase markers line up cleanly.

How to read Synthwave BPM values in DJ software
Reading	Meaning	Action
80-115 BPM	Core Synthwave DJ range	Beatmatch normally, then check phrasing around intros, breaks, and drops.
40-58 BPM	Halftime interpretation of the core range	Double the grid if 8-bar loops or cue points feel too slow.
100 BPM	Practical target for crate filtering	Use as a starting point, then sort by energy, key, and arrangement.
> 115 BPM	Faster outliers or double-time readings	Check whether the track behaves better as halftime before using it as a fast transition.

DJ Overview for Synthwave

Use this as a mixing and library-prep description, not an encyclopedia entry.

DJ overview for Synthwave
Aspect	Detail
Sound palette	80s synths, Gated reverb drums, Neon nostalgia, Drive aesthetic
Drum feel	80-115 BPM core range; check whether slower readings work better doubled or as halftime.
Arrangement and phrasing	Confirm intro, build, drop, breakdown, and outro cue points before trusting the analyzer value.
Energy use in a set	warmup, groove section, or crossover bridge
Often compared with	Outrun, Chillwave, Darksynth

Mix Into Synthwave

Tempo overlap is only one part of the decision. These suggestions separate BPM fit from style fit so same-tempo but unrelated genres do not look like natural transitions.

Genres to mix into Synthwave
Genre	BPM fit	Style fit	Transition
Outrun80-115 BPM · typical 100	High	High	Long blend, harmonic blend, or drop swap
Darksynth90-130 BPM · typical 110	High	High	Long blend, harmonic blend, or drop swap
Vaporwave60-90 BPM · typical 75	High	High	Long blend, harmonic blend, or drop swap
Chillwave80-110 BPM · typical 95	High	High	Long blend, harmonic blend, or drop swap
Cinematic Midtempo90-110 BPM · typical 100	High	Medium	Short blend; verify arrangement and energy
Skweee80-110 BPM · typical 95	High	Medium	Short blend; verify arrangement and energy
Kwaito95-112 BPM · typical 105	High	Medium	Short blend; verify arrangement and energy
Downtempo80-115 BPM · typical 95	High	Medium	Short blend; verify arrangement and energy

Reference Artists in Synthwave

Artists represented in the current Synthwave track sample:

Reference artists in Synthwave
#	Artist	Tracks	Keys
01	Carpenter Brut	1 track, 147 BPM	4A
02	Charlie Simpson	1 track, 86 BPM	6B
03	Dance With the Dead	1 track, 130 BPM	1B
04	Gunship	1 track, 86 BPM	6B
05	John Carpenter	1 track, 86 BPM	6B
06	Kavinsky	1 track, 91 BPM	8A

Compare Nearby Styles

60 BPM130 BPM

Synthwave

80–115 · typical 100

Primary reference for this page.

Outrun

80–115 · typical 100

Same typical tempo; compare by arrangement and energy.

Chillwave

80–110 · typical 95

5 BPM slower typical tempo; useful for warmups or pull-backs.

Darksynth

90–130 · typical 110

10 BPM faster typical tempo; useful for lifting energy.

Vaporwave

60–90 · typical 75

25 BPM slower typical tempo; useful for warmups or pull-backs.

Common Keys for Synthwave

Most-used Camelot keys among the Synthwave tracks shown here:

4AF minor2 tracks 1BB major1 track 3AB♭ minor1 track

Want to hear it in practice? Browse Synthwave tracks and the DJs who play them in the directory, filterable by key, tempo, and energy.

Explore Related References

Synthwave BPM chartVisual sub-genre tempo referenceOpen 100 BPM tracksReference tracks near the typical tempoOpen 4A (F minor)2 reference Synthwave tracks in this keyOpen 1B (B major)1 reference Synthwave track in this keyOpen

Mixing Tips

Tempo Window

Stay in the 80–115 BPM band for clean mixes; verify unknown tracks with the BPM tapper.

Harmonic Fit

Use the Camelot wheel to find compatible keys before transitioning, especially when Synthwave tracks have prominent melodic content.

Tempo Bridges

When bridging into a different tempo, use the key transposer to plan how pitch change affects key, or transition during a breakdown where the beat drops.

Next Reference

Browse the EDM genre BPM chart or the music genre tree to see how Synthwave relates to neighboring styles.

Typical Tempo

See tracks at the typical 100 BPM on the 100 BPM tracks page.

Hey, it's Ben Modigell 👋

I've been DJing and producing music as "so I so," focusing on downtempo, minimal, dub house, tech house, and techno. My background in digital marketing, web development, and UX design over the past 6 years helps me create DJ tutorials that are clear, practical, and easy to follow.

DJingMusic ProductionTech HouseMinimal HouseDigital MarketingWeb DevelopmentUX Design

Methodology

Last updated May 11, 2026

Author and Methodology

Maintained by Ben Modigell, founder of Vibes. Ben builds DJ library, preparation, BPM, and harmonic-mixing tools for working DJs.

Data used: 7 reference tracks
Source: Audio features sourced from ReccoBeats (https://reccobeats.com); track metadata via Spotify Search API. Spotify deprecated audio-features for new apps in Nov 2024. Manual label reference tracks use Beatport BPM/key metadata where available.
Evidence: 7 reference Synthwave tracks from a 391-track dataset; 4 sit inside the core DJ range and 3 are labeled as adjacent or outlier examples.
How this page is made: This page is generated from the Vibes genre taxonomy, curated reference tracks, computed evidence statistics, and reference track metadata where available. AI-assisted research helped draft the taxonomy notes; the visible page is rendered from structured data and reusable page logic.

Genre BPM ranges are practical DJ references, not statistical claims about every track. Different edits, live versions, and analysis engines may report slightly different tempos.

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Frequently Asked Questions

100 BPM is the practical DJ target for Synthwave. Treat it as a crate-filtering reference, then check the exact beatgrid and phrasing for each track.

Synthwave ranges from 80 to 115 BPM. The spread reflects production variations and sub-genre splintering within the style.

The main sub-genres of Synthwave include Outrun (100 BPM), Darksynth (110 BPM), Vaporwave (75 BPM). Each has its own tempo signature within the broader 80-115 BPM range.

Synthwave is best compared with Outrun (80-115 BPM), Darksynth (90-130 BPM), Vaporwave (60-90 BPM), Chillwave (80-110 BPM). These are more useful DJ references than same-tempo genres from unrelated scenes because the production style and phrasing are closer.

Synthwave is characterized by: 80s synths, Gated reverb drums, Neon nostalgia, Drive aesthetic.

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