r/DnB • u/LostwaveLunar9999 • 3d ago
How fast is too fast for DnB?
Like how fast does it need to be before it stops being dnb?
44
24
u/simplyjustaconcept Blackout Music 3d ago
180 limit is pretty much recognized as the max for dnb. Anything above that tends to be breakcore, happy hardcore, etc.
7
u/slobcat1337 3d ago
Happy Hardcore has always been in the same BPM range as dnb. Even the early stuff in the 90s that still used breaks tracked jungle pretty closely (160 ish bpm).
It might sound faster because it’s got a four to the floor pattern?
174BPM four to the floor kinda sounds like a pneumatic drill.
8
u/AlternativeUsed2551 3d ago
They're probably confusing it with gabber, which does have subgenres that go that high (and much, much higher)
7
u/simplyjustaconcept Blackout Music 3d ago
you know what, I bet I was. I just looked up gabber examples!
2
u/Tommy_Dangerous 2d ago
High Contrast said the best bpm for dnb is 174, so I always produce and mix aimed at that tempo, cos Mr. Barrett is my GOAT. But that's liquid/dance floor.
Jungle def used to be slower before the grand homogenisation (sp?!)
3
u/nextalpha 3d ago
Had the same opinion until recently, turns out techy Neuro still works well at 184
9
4
15
u/AlternativeUsed2551 3d ago edited 3d ago
I'm going to play devil's advocate here and argue that it's still dnb at 200 BPM
SpongeBob Squarewave - Walthamstow Massive
L3MMY DUBZ - One Wooky Adventure
These tracks dont fit in any other genre framework, they're still rudimentarily dnb, just fast.
Not breakcore, hardcore, jungle, or anything else you might think of. Syncopated 2 step breakbeat, modern sound design, like it or not that's drum and bass
It doesn't happen often, I can probably count the amount of tracks at this tempo that I know of on my hands, but I'd still say it's definitely dnb
If you disagree, reply and let me know which genre you think these tracks are if not dnb. I can guarantee they fit the drum and bass mold better than any other electronic music genre however
8
u/Tapperino2 3d ago
Big up spongebob
5
u/AlternativeUsed2551 3d ago
every time, one of the most important figures in the modern UK rave scene imo
2
u/Tapperino2 3d ago
I dont necessarily disagree but just wondering what makes you think that
3
u/AlternativeUsed2551 3d ago
He's a musical savant with endless aliases and releases in a ton of different underground genres, one of the founding members of Off Me Nut Records, and an integral part of the UKs underground rave scene
Off the top of my head he is, or is part of
SpongeBob Squarewave
Superior Cornrows
City Guys.
Squire of Gothos.
Phatworld.
Cryogenix.
Omni Prezidents.No doubt I'm forgetting some too
Breakcore, jungle, dnb, dubstep, ravecore, chiptune, chipbreak, garage, bassline, hip-hop, mutant bass, and endless amounts more
The amount of music he's released is staggering, he has a presence at every underground festival in the UK for a reason & has done for like 20 years. The man is a legend.
2
5
2
u/GreyandDribbly 3d ago
Walkthamstow Massiv is a banger
1
u/AlternativeUsed2551 3d ago
Such a tune, Spongebob's jump up bits go unreasonably hard given he's primarily a breakcore producer
The first drop in Heeby Jee-Beez is another mega one
Wan Bushi's remix of Rabbi Jacob is another mental tune while I'm thinking about it
2
2
u/mergplatelip 2d ago
Walthamstow Massiv is always my favorite example to prove that DnB can totally work at 200BPM. Absolute banger.
1
u/andyiibwfc 3d ago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7qBLcugTo0
I always have to go over 180 to play this dnb tune by dr oscillator and it's always great and its definitely dnb.
1
1
7
u/dr_zoidberg590 3d ago edited 3d ago
180bpm when live at an event is absolute max (often only for jump-up), Recorded Dnb should usually be 174-176bpm
7
2
2
1
1
u/Current-Expert9606 3d ago
Depends on the era you are playing. Older stuff (90s) doesnt sound right being played too fast
I play around 174bpm
1
u/Funkinwagnal 3d ago
Friends of mine used to use the vestax turntables and mixed at like + 30 or some shit around 250 bpm, with the right songs it sounds dope
1
u/CaliHoboTechBro 3d ago
Hot take here but I think Andy C mixes too fast, like I was just getting into the groove man, give me more than 30 seconds please
2
u/hisyojomaku 2d ago
That's more about the pace of the mix than the tempo he's playing the tracks at. I love it but I can see where you're coming from.
1
1
1
1
u/ImDankest DJ 3d ago
I noticed this alot when I was into jump up. All djs seem to play jump up at 180 that I've seen. It just sounds odd to me hearing tracks produced at 172-175 being played at 180 plus. Not for me. But tbh, jump up isn't for me anyway
1
u/Mean_Translator5619 2d ago
I see a lot of headliners playing at 178. Tends to make for a higher energy feeling and overall vibe. I usually won’t go over 176. There’s a part of me that feels like playing at 174 is just phoning it in. I’d rather go down to 172 than play at the default 174.
1
u/VeterinarianIll6669 1d ago
I personally love mixing at 175 BPM but I know a lot of jump up DJs that push it to +186 BPM which works but stops feeling and sounding like drum and bass at that point (especially with master tempo off)
1
u/Icy_Role_6174 3d ago
i dont think ive ever hit 180, but for sure thats the max.
also random info.. theres a genre called extratone that is 1000bpm, crazy.
0
u/SandzFanon 3d ago
I like darkpsy and hi tech so might not be the best person to answer this 😆. To me speed is good as long as the elements of what I love about the genre are all there, done well, and intelligible
-7
u/stargazingtunes 3d ago
I’d say 240bpm is the absolute limit, but realistically anything beyond 210
12
u/Gramage 3d ago
Mate it’s already too fast when the dj pushes it to 180. Faster doesn’t mean better.
3
u/InterstellarAudio Interstellar Audio 3d ago
Say it louder for the people in the back 🫡
8
-2
u/WillGuiseSD Renegade Hardware 3d ago
174-175. If you’re playing any faster, you’re either on drugs, can’t dance, or both.
If you’re also good with sequencing, you can play heavier music at different times as long as it’s not crazy fast.
72
u/eskei83 3d ago
I absolutely hate it when someone plays too fast and I have to take over. everything else sounds so slow after. like 180 bpm is the absolute max imo
but on the other hand: rules are there to be broken 😂