120 BPM Songs - Popular Running, Walking, Workout Songs and Playlists
There’s nothing like a frantic beat or a soaring melody to motivate and drive you when you’re working out. Many of us like to put a playlist on when we’re jogging, running or taking part in a high-energy exercise class. Listening to music can lift our spirits, give us that extra energy boost we need to reach the dizzy heights and make every session more fun.
When you’re working up a sweat, it’s a good idea to listen to music that energises you and makes you work harder, and most people aim for songs that have a tempo of 120 BPM. If you’re looking for ideas for your workout playlist, or you’re hoping to diversify your selection of workout classics, we’ve come up with some suggestions for you. Whether you’re into trance, disco, funk or reggae, we’ve got you covered.
How fast is 120 BPM?
When you look for workout songs, you’ll often come across the term BPM. 120 BPM is a moderate speed, which is ideal for fast walking, jogging, and running, depending on your age and fitness levels. The tracks listed below are ideally suited to a brisk walk in the fresh air, a jog around the park, a treadmill workout or a high-energy class at the gym.
If you struggle with running, or you’d like to increase the pace or try and push yourself to work harder, music can play an integral role in helping you achieve your goals. If you’ve got a playlist of songs at 120 BPM, you can sync your stride pattern and your pace to your music, which will make you run harder and faster. It’s a lot easier to pick up the pace when you’ve got dance or trance beats in your ears, than a slow ballad. Research shows that your brain tries to sync with anything that has a steady, noticeable beat. If you’re listening to a 120 BPM track, your body will naturally move faster than it would with an 80 BPM song. Next time you’re finding it difficult to reach the finish line or improve your time, try listening to music with a faster tempo, and see if you notice a positive difference.
To give you inspiration for your next workout, and encourage you to get the best out of every session, here are some 120 BPM tracks to get the blood pumping. We’ve divided our picks into categories and genres to enable you to find songs you’ll love based on your tastes
120 BPM Workout Music, Vol. 1
Before you read through all the categories, don't forget to check out our very own 120 BPM Workout Music.
Hip Hop & Rap
Hip hop and rap songs are typically slower than 120 BPM.
For example, Walk This Way by Run-DMC is 106 BPM and even that would be considered up tempo.
However, if hip hop and rap is your genre and you need faster paced songs, then here's a selection of songs you can compile into a playlist.
Trance
Trance music hit the big time in the late 1980s and early ‘90s. It is a genre that is ideally suited to running and high-intensity workouts thanks to its energetic melodies, strong basslines, and jagged beats. Trance music typically contains between 110 and 160 BPM making it perfect for jogging, long distance running, and interval training. If you’re a fan of trance, and you’re keen to add some tracks to your workout playlist, check out these songs, which all have 120 BPM:
Indie Dance & 80's Songs at 120 BPM
Indie music has long been popular, and it comes in many forms. Indie songs can have a rocky edge, a pop vibe or a more dance-like flavour and they tend to hover at the 100-140 BPM mark. Indie dance offers a cool blend of rock, pop and dance, which works brilliantly with old-school influences from the 80’s. If you’re an ‘80s aficionado, and you also love a bit of indie thrown in for good measure, here are some 120 BPM candidates for your new gym playlist:
Techno Songs at 120 BPM
A distinctive form of electronic dance music, which emerged from the US city of Detroit in the 1980s, techno has become very popular, especially among those who like to dance until dawn and power through at the gym. Techno music usually contains up to 140 BPM, making it an ideal option for those who like to really push themselves when out for a run. Techno beats are great for getting into a rhythm and the intensity can really help to give you that extra boost. Here are some of the best 120 BPM techno tracks for running:
Progressive House
Progressive house is a subcategory of house music, which came to the fore in the 1990s. House music is designed for dancing, and it’s a popular choice for those who enjoy running, sprinting, and other types of intensive cardio exercise. Progressive house tracks are often faster than 120 BPM, but you won’t struggle to find contenders for your 120 BPM library if this is your kind of music. Here are some of the best songs on offer:
Glitch Hop
Glitch hop is a subgenre of glitch music, which combines electronic production, hip-hop beats, loud bass lines, and a crunky edge. Glitch hop has become increasingly popular over the course of the last few years, but it’s not always ideally suited to running. This is because the vast majority of songs are pitched at around 100 BPM. If you are into this genre, we recommend using these tracks to warm up or to motivate you on a walk or gentle jog and to turn your playlist up a notch when you’re ready to step up the pace. It’s tricky to find glitch hop tracks that hit 120 BPM, but we’ve come across these great titles:
Funk / Soul / Disco
What could be better than running along to some disco, soul and funk classics? Designed to get your body moving, this genre is perfect for those keen to work up a sweat and have fun at the same time. Typically, funk, soul, and disco music has 90-130 BPM, and there are plenty of songs that have a faster 120 BPM tempo you can add to your high-energy playlist. Whether you fancy going all out and throwing your hands in the air like you just don’t care, or you’re looking for something a little more understated and soulful, this list contains brilliant 120 BPM tracks:
New Romantics / 80's
The ‘80s may not be the decade of choice for running enthusiasts, but for those who are proud of the guilty pleasures on their playlists, there’s nothing more fun than working out to the dulcet tones of the new romantic era. Many songs in this genre don’t hit the 120 BPM mark, but we’ve uncovered some 120 BPM gems to get your pulse going:
Pop / Dance
If chart-toppers are your cup of tea, you’ll find a dazzling array of pop and dance tunes that have the right tempo for running. If you like to sing along, and you’re looking for tracks that will put a smile on your face, you can’t go wrong with these 120 BPM best-sellers:
House Music
House music is a popular genre of dance, which is played in clubs and bars to get the party started and the crowd on their feet. House music features fast tempos, stirring melodic lines and heavy beats, and it’s fantastic for running. If you’re aiming to go faster and beat a PB, this is the kind of music you want in your ears. You can get into a fast-paced rhythm, as most songs are pitched at 110-140 BPM. If you’re searching for 120 BPM house bangers for your next al fresco run, here are some ideas:
Breaks
Breaks is a genre of electronic music, which is characterised by a kick drum and a snare on alternate beats, which form a break pattern. Breaks is a form of music with a tempo up to around 140 BPM, making it ideal for more intensive workouts. A relatively new genre, breaks may not be familiar to everyone, but if you enjoy dance music, and you’re looking for something new to run to, it may be worth giving these 120 bpm tracks a listen:
Reggae / Dancehall / Dub
Originating in Jamaica, reggae music combines elements of dub, hip-hop, blues, and rhythm and blues, and it’s famed for its feel-good factor. Dancehall music evolved from reggae and is also known as dub or ragga. Reggae, dancehall and dub music usually have a moderate-fast tempo, and you can find all kinds of great songs with a speed of 120 BPM. Here are some ideas to get you thinking:
Big Room
Big Room is a genre of house music, which hit the headlines in the mid 2010s. Popular in clubs in Ibiza and the Greek Islands, big room catapulted DJs like Martin Garrix into the limelight. With a tempo around the 120-140 BPM mark, some big room tracks are a little fast for jogging, running and speed training, but there are some at the 120 BPM mark. If you’re planning to head out for a run, and you’re looking for tunes to spur you on and keep you entertained and motivated, take a look at these heart-pumping 120 BPM tracks:
When you’re running on the treadmill, you’re working up a sweat in the gym, or you’re preparing to go for a job on a chilly, miserable day, the music you choose to listen to can have a significant influence on how you feel and how well you perform. When you’re looking for tracks, aim for songs at the 120 BPM mark. This will enable you to step up your training, and encourage your body to move faster in line with the beat. If you’re on the lookout for tunes to add to your playlist, go for music genres that you love, and look for individual tracks that have 120 BPM. If you listen to songs that make you feel good, and they have a moderate-fast tempo, this will motivate you, and help you to enjoy every session. Music makes you feel good, and so does exercise, so you should come out on a high.
If you like a wide range of genres, it’s worth taking a look at the list of songs above and picking and choosing tracks to create an eclectic mix that will push you right to the last second of every training session. You can also create individual playlists if you feel like stepping back into the ‘80s, living it up at the disco or taking yourself off to an exotic Caribbean island. Focus on choosing songs that put a smile on your face, as well as those that make you work harder and give more.
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