The Science Behind the Perfect Workout Playlist
A Healthier Michigan
| 3 min read
Is there such a thing as the best workout mix? It turns out, there is. A recent study showed what most athletes and gym-goers already know: upbeat music makes exercise feel easier and the right collection of songs can put you in the zone.
What makes a good workout playlist?
A good workout playlist considers lyrics, style, and tempo (also called beats per minute or BPM). Almost as important at the BPM is the consistency and flow of a playlist’s rhythm. Research shows that synchronizing your movements to a steady beat will help carry you through the workout and keep you motivated once fatigue sets in. The song’s tempo should match your heart rate, with slower songs playing during your warm-up or cool-down, and faster songs when you need to kick it into high gear, with easy transitions between the warm-up, workout, and cool-down periods.
Of course, you don’t always need to turn to experts in music and sports science to create a new workout playlist. There are many free apps that automatically calculate and tag a song’s BPM. Warm-up and cool-down songs should fall into the 80-90 BPM range. The music’s tempo should increase to the 120-140 BPM range once your workout transitions into a moderate intensity level. For runners, a BPM of 180 beats per minute can help you achieve a healthy cadence.
Examples of workout music
Looking at any streaming service or Spotify’s top workout tracks or playlist can be a good start if you feel lost on where to begin on a good workout playlist. Many streaming subscription services will even craft workout music based on your listening history and music tastes. Here are some of Spotify’s top workout tracks in summer 2024:
- Dance The Night (from Barbie The Movie) by Dua Lipa
- Cut to the Feeling by Carly Rae Jepsen
- Good Luck, Babe! by Chappell Roan
- Midnight Ride by Orville Peck, Kylie Minogue, and Diplo
- Training Season by Dua Lipa
- We Didn’t Start the Fire by Fall Out Boy
- ADIVINO by Myke Towers and Bad Bunny
- Houdini by Dua Lipa
- Hot In It by Tiësto and Charli XCX
- Break My Soul by Beyoncé
- Party In the U.S.A. by Miley Cyrus
- Higher Love by Kygo with Whitney Houston
- We Found Love by Rihanna and Calvin Harris
- Million Dollar Baby by Tommy Richman
- Hollaback Girl by Gwen Stefani
The ideal BPM will vary from person to person, depending on their working heart rate, but exercisers can increase the intensity of their workout by raising the tempo a little beyond their comfort zone. This tempo increase should make you work even harder, but you’ll be so motivated by the music that you’ll barely notice the extra effort. Sounds like a winning formula.
Related Links:
- How to Choose the Right Workout for You (ahealthiermichigan.org)
- What to Look for in a Good Workout Routine (ahealthiermichigan.org)
- The Science Behind the Perfect Workout Playlist (ahealthiermichigan.org)
