Slow down a song

Two ways to slow down a song

Changing a song’s speed sounds like one job, but there are really two different results, and which one you want depends on why you are slowing it down. This page starts on the plain Slowed (no reverb) preset: 0.8× speed, pitch following, no other effects. From there, the pitch mode decides what happens to the key.

Follows speed: slower and lower

This is how a turntable or tape machine behaves. Slow the playback and everything drops in pitch along with the tempo, following semitones = 12 × log2(speed). It is the sound behind slowed edits, and it is the right choice if you want a deeper, heavier version of a song. It is not great for practice, because the song is no longer in the key you will be playing or singing in.

Set separately: slower, same key

Choose Set separately and the tool uses time-stretching (Signalsmith Stretch) to change the tempo without touching the pitch. A song at 0.75× plays three-quarters as fast but stays in its original key, so you can play along on your instrument. The pitch slider then works on its own, from −12 to +12 semitones in 0.1 steps, if you also want to move the key. Turn on Natural-sounding vocals to preserve the character of voices when you shift the pitch.

Percentages and speeds

Practice apps and teachers often talk in percentages, while this tool uses a multiplier. They are the same thing: 75% speed is 0.75×. Here is how common settings compare for a 3:00 song:

With Set separately, the duration column still applies, but the pitch column becomes zero. The quick buttons cover 0.7, 0.75, 0.8, 0.85 and 0.9, and the slider reaches anything from 0.25× to 2× in 0.01 steps. The tool also estimates the song’s tempo and shows the new BPM, which makes it easy to land on a metronome-friendly number.

Slowing down songs for practice

Learning an instrument

Fast solos, tricky strumming patterns and dense piano runs are much easier to learn at 60–75% speed. Set the pitch mode to Set separately so the song stays in tune with your instrument, then work your way back up: 0.7×, 0.8×, 0.9× and finally full speed.

Dance and choreography

For learning steps, 0.75× to 0.85× usually keeps the groove recognisable while giving you time to think. Keeping the key isn’t essential for dance, but it makes the music sound more natural, which helps when you are counting to it for a long session.

Transcribing lyrics or parts

Slowing a busy section to 0.5×–0.7× makes fast lyrics and hidden harmonies easier to pick out. Keep the original key so you can check notes against your instrument. Very big slowdowns can smear drum hits a little, so if something sounds odd, compare with the source using the Original button or the B key.

Trim and loop the hard part

You rarely need the whole song. Drag the handles on the waveform around the bar or phrase you are working on, then turn on Loop. The section repeats while you play, and you can nudge the speed up as you improve without stopping playback. Space plays and pauses, and the arrow keys seek. If you want to keep that practice loop, export it: only the trimmed part is saved.

Slowing down songs for the sound

Plenty of people want the opposite of a clean practice copy: the deep, syrupy sound of a slowed edit. Keep Follows speed, drop to 0.8× or lower, and the song gets darker and heavier. From there you can add effects in the same editor, or start from a style-specific page:

• The slowed + reverb generator adds a large hall reverb and a little bass for the classic dreamy edit.
• The daycore maker keeps the slowdown gentle with only a light reverb.
• Add reverb to audio if you want the space without changing the speed.
• The vaporwave generator goes down to 0.72× with tape wobble and vinyl texture.

If you are unsure where to start, our guide to the best slowed + reverb settings explains how speed, reverb and bass work together.

Tips for a natural-sounding slowdown

• Small changes sound cleanest. With the key kept, 0.8× to 0.9× is close to transparent on most music. Going past 0.6× works for study, but expect some softening on drums and fast consonants.
• Watch the bass when the pitch drops. In “Follows speed” mode, the low end gets even lower. If it starts to rumble, add a low cut at 30–40 Hz or pull the bass control down a few dB.
• Brighten a dull result. A slower, lower song loses some sparkle. A dB or two on the treble control helps.

What you can open and save

The tool opens MP3, WAV, FLAC, M4A/AAC, OGG, Opus, AIFF, WMA and more, plus the audio from video files like MP4, MOV and MKV. When you are done, save as MP3 (128–320 kbps), WAV (16-bit, 24-bit or 32-bit float), 24-bit FLAC or M4A. The song’s title, artist and cover art are kept. Choose Video to create a 1080p MP4 with artwork in 9:16, 16:9 or 1:1 if you want to post your slowed version.

It all runs in your browser, so nothing is uploaded, and it is free with no sign-up. If you publish a slowed version of someone else’s song, keep in mind that it can infringe their copyright; practice copies for your own use are a different matter from posting edits publicly.