R&B Beats for Singers: How to Pick Yours

In short: a good R&B beat to sing on usually sits between 65 and 100 BPM, has soft chords that keep your voice in front and is in a key that feels comfortable for your range. Sing the chorus over it before you buy it, and pick the license based on where you’ll release the song.

What is an R&B beat?

It’s an instrumental with soft chords (piano, electric guitar or keys), laid-back drums and a warm bass, made more for singing than for rapping. It’s the sound of artists like The Weeknd, 6LACK or Sam Smith. My R&B beats almost always start on the piano: first I look for chords I like, then I add everything else, leaving room in the middle for the vocal.

What tempo should you look for?

• 65 to 80 BPM: slow, intimate ballads, comfortable to sing calmly.
• 85 to 100 BPM: more movement without losing the softness.
• Over 100 BPM: R&B blended with trap or pop, more danceable.

If you see a very high tempo, like 146 BPM, it usually feels like half of it (73): that happens a lot in trap-influenced R&B.

Key and your vocal range

Sing the chorus over the beat before you buy it. If you have to strain on the high notes, that key isn’t for you. Minor keys sound more melancholic and major keys brighter. Every beat in the store shows its key.

Leave room for your voice

In R&B the voice is the main thing. Look for beats where the piano or guitar supports you without covering you, with emptier verses and a chorus that lifts.

Which license do you need?

• Basic: MP3, up to 150,000 streams. To start and test the song.
• Premium: WAV, up to 350,000 streams. For a serious release.
• Unlimited: no limits, with the separated tracks so you can mix better.
• Exclusive: the beat is only yours and comes off the store.

All of them let you upload the song to Spotify, YouTube and every other platform. Compare the licenses →

R&B beats to start with

• Lust: bluesy guitar, sensual, 65 BPM, Fm.
• You: 6LACK x The Weeknd type beat, sexy guitar, 78 BPM, F#m.
• Galaxy: Lewis Capaldi x Sleeping At Last type beat, sad and cinematic, 78 BPM, Abm.
• Dreamer: Sam Smith type beat, emotional piano ballad, 90 BPM, F#.
• Passion: 24kGoldn x The Kid LAROI type beat, 92 BPM, Em.
• Hallucination: R&B x trap, love song, 110 BPM, Abm.

See all R&B beats →

Frequently asked questions

How much does an R&B beat cost?

Usually between $20 and $150, depending on the license. In my store they start at $24.95.

Are R&B and neo soul the same thing?

Neo soul is a style within R&B, more organic and with jazzier chords. If that’s your thing, look for the beats where piano and bass carry the melody.

Can I upload my song to Spotify with a beat I bought?

Yes. Every license allows it, within the stream limit of each one.