How to Rap Double Time: Rap Faster and Stay on Beat

Double time is when you suddenly rap twice as fast as your normal flow, on the same beat. The beat doesn't speed up, you do. Done right it sounds impressive, done wrong it turns into mush. Here's how to learn it.

What is double time?

In a laid-back flow you often rap two syllables per beat. In double time that's four. Over a four-beat bar that comes to around 16 syllables. What a bar is? Read what a bar is in rap.

1. Start slow

Nobody raps tight double time right away. Practice on a metronome at a low tempo first, say 70 BPM. Once it's tight, bump the tempo up a few BPM. You can do that with the free tap tempo and metronome.

2. Count four per beat

Tap your foot on every beat and count four little pieces inside it in your head. Every syllable lands on one of those pieces. That way you hear right away if you're early or late.

3. Pick words that roll

Short words with clear sounds are easier to rap fast than long words with lots of consonants in a row. Keep tripping over the same word? Swap it. Your lyrics are allowed to adapt to your flow.

4. Speak clearly

Fast only impresses if people can still understand it. Hit your consonants sharply and don't swallow the endings. Tongue twisters make a good warm-up.

5. Plan your breath

Double time takes a lot of air. Mark a spot in your lyrics where you can breathe, and leave a small pause right before your fast part. Also read running out of breath when rapping.

6. Use it as a surprise

A whole verse in double time gets tiring fast. A few bars in between stand out, especially after a calm part. The contrast is what makes it hit. More on switching it up in how to improve your flow.

7. Record and listen back

What sounds tight in your head isn't always tight on a recording. Record yourself and listen if every syllable lands in place. Record the fast part separately if you need to. Read punch-in and comping.

Common mistakes

• Starting too fast. First slow and tight, then faster.
• Mumbling. Speed without clarity doesn't work.
• Falling off the beat. Keep counting, even when it's fast.
• Holding it too long. A few bars often hit harder than a whole verse.

Looking for a beat to practice on? Browse all beats.

FAQ

What is double time in rap?

Rapping at twice the speed of your normal flow, on the same beat. Often that means four syllables per beat instead of two.

What beats work for double time?

A calmer beat gives you the most room, like hip hop around 80 to 90 BPM. In trap you often count on the half-time feel, so it works there too. See what BPM hip hop is.

How do I get faster?

Practice on a metronome and raise the tempo step by step, only once the previous tempo is tight.