How slow can you make music before it’s not music anymore?

January 29, 2018 Alan Cross 0 Comments

Sometimes you just need to chill with some downtempo music. Whether you’re into Brian Eno’s ambient music or something droney from Sunn 0))), slow music brings down the heart rate, flattens out the brain waves and instills a sense of calm.

But here’s a great question: how slow can you make music before it’s not really music anymore? According to the psychological sciences, the answer is 33 beats per minute. This video (via Boing Boing) explains why.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

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