Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel #8)
Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel #8) by Bill Monroe & his Blue Grass Boys is 140 BPM — Allegro (fast).
Half-time 70 BPM · Double-time 280 BPM · released 1940
Song DNA
Misophonia Triggers
Iconic bluegrass track originally recorded in 1940, showcasing Bill Monroe's high lonesome vocal style over driving mandolin, fiddle, guitar, and bass.
Hear it the way it was made
The right gear changes everything.
Moods: confident, energetic
Traditions: bluegrass
"Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel #8)" runs at 140 BPM — cruise pace territory.
For runners: match cadence to BPM and the song does half the work. Texture stays smooth; vocals sit dynamic. Nothing in the arrangement asks for your attention mid-stride. Good as a steady-state track; less useful for interval work where you want explicit tempo shifts.
How this song sits on each sensory axis
A dynamic range of 5/10 is within the normal pop-mix band. There is variation between verse and chorus, but it's the kind of variation most listeners encounter routinely.
Sudden changes: none. Transitions are musically signaled — nothing will surprise you if you're only half-listening.
Texture: smooth.
Predictability is high — the song telegraphs what it will do next. A sensory-sensitive listener can usually guess where it's going without close attention.
Vocal style: dynamic vocals.
Where this sits in Bill Monroe & his Blue Grass Boys's catalog
We have 2 songs from Bill Monroe & his Blue Grass Boys in the library. Of those, 2 are rated Safe, 0 Moderate, and 0 Intense. This song's dynamic range of 5/10 sits at the artist average of 5.0, making it the #1 most dynamic track of theirs in our library.
1940 context
Released in 1940. We have 15 songs from that year in our library, averaging a dynamic range of 5.6/10. This track is quieter / less dynamic than the year average. Explore more from the 1940s.
Explore by mood and tradition
Guides that may help
How fast is "Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel #8)"?
140 BPM — Fast (workout / running pace)
Steady-state running pace. Matches most recreational runners' natural cadence.
Running, cycling, aerobic workouts, dance cardio.
Active tasks, getting pumped up, party, anything high-energy.
Browse more songs at 140 BPM.
When "Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel #8)" works, and when it doesn't
Use-case verdicts computed from the song's tempo, dynamics, and sensory profile.
Maybe — fine for routine work, but the mid-song changes may pull attention during deep focus.
Yes — 140 BPM sits squarely in the running / cardio band. Matches natural stride cadence.
Maybe — calm overall, but tempo is a bit high for deep sleep. Better for winding down than falling asleep.
Yes — predictable enough for safe driving attention, interesting enough to stay engaged.
Yes — sits in the background without demanding attention.
Not really — it's pleasant but doesn't hit hard enough for cathartic listening.
Related reading
Editorial guides that cover this song's use cases, moods, or artist.
Why Video Game Soundtracks Are Perfect for Focus and Study
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Why this rating
We rate this song Safe because its dynamic range stays within our low-variance band, there are no unsignaled changes, and the texture and vocal style are both in the low-fatigue range. Our methodology uses an AND rule for Safe — a song has to clear every dimension to earn the rating.
See how “Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel #8)” sits against your own sensitivities, or use it as a waypoint in a calmer set.
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For focused listening
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Rating last reviewed: 2026-04-15. Reviewed by the Music I Want editorial team against the documented methodology.
Think this rating is wrong? Contact the editor — every message is read and ratings get revised.
By the numbers: how this song compares
Computed from this song’s place among the 19,209 songs we’ve measured.
Where it sits in 19,000 songs
On our 19k-song scale this lands in the middle band — more energetic than 22% of songs, calmer than the other 78%. Its intensity reading of 33/100 comes from a dynamic range of 5/10, smooth texture, no sudden shifts, and dynamic vocals. Relatively few songs occupy this exact corner of the spectrum.
What makes it unusual
What stands out most about this song is a fast, driving tempo: more extreme on that axis than 90% of everything we've measured. At the far opposite end of the library sit the songs built on near-total stillness — steady volume, no surprises, a slow and unhurried pulse — the kind of track this one is the counterpoint to.
Feels almost identical to
Closest matches by feel across all 19,209 measured songs — not by genre or artist, by how they actually move.
What it’s good for
Scored from this song’s tempo, intensity, dynamics and texture — not crowd votes.
1940 in context
The 15 songs we’ve measured from 1940 average a dynamic range of 5.6/10. At 5/10, this track is right in line with its year.
Mixes smoothly with
Within a few BPM and close in feel — they flow without a jarring transition.
The fingerprint
The 8-dimension measurement behind every rating on this page.
Frequently asked about "Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel #8)"
Quick answers pulled from the song's sensory analysis.
What is the BPM of "Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel #8)" by Bill Monroe & his Blue Grass Boys?
"Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel #8)" by Bill Monroe & his Blue Grass Boys has a tempo of 140 BPM (Allegro (fast)). At half-time that is 70 BPM, and at double-time 280 BPM.
What is the sensory intensity of "Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel #8)" by Bill Monroe & his Blue Grass Boys?
"Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel #8)" by Bill Monroe & his Blue Grass Boys rates as Low-Intensity. Dynamic range 5/10, no sudden changes, smooth texture. Our Low-Intensity rating means no single dimension triggers the higher-intensity thresholds.
How loud is "Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel #8)" — what is its dynamic range?
"Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel #8)" has a dynamic range of 5/10. Within normal pop-mix variation. Movement between verse and chorus but nothing dramatic.
Does "Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel #8)" have sudden or surprising changes?
No. "Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel #8)" has no sudden unsignaled changes. Every transition is musically telegraphed.
What is "Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel #8)" best for?
In our library "Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel #8)" is recommended for: focus, study. These tags are assigned only where the song's sensory profile genuinely supports the use case.
When was "Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel #8)" released?
"Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel #8)" is from 1940, on the album "The Essential Bill Monroe & The Monroe Brothers". It appears in our 1940s catalog.
What is the emotional mood of "Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel #8)"?
We tag "Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel #8)" as confident, energetic. Moods are tonal descriptors based on how the song reads emotionally — separate from the sensory intensity axes.
What is the vocal style of "Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel #8)"?
The vocal style is dynamic vocals.
Is "Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel #8)" good for running?
Yes — at 140 BPM it sits in the running-cadence band (120-180 BPM). Match your stride to the beat and it keeps pace with most recreational runners.
Is "Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel #8)" good for studying?
Only partially. The song's dynamic range (5/10) means there will be loud moments that break focus during deep work.
Can I use "Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel #8)" for sleep?
Not recommended for sleep. Dynamic range is too high — quiet moments will be ambushed by louder ones.
Should I listen to "Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel #8)"?
If you want gentle, low-arousal music, "Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel #8)" is a solid pick — Low-Intensity across every sensory dimension.
Songs with the same DNA
smooth texture, similar intensity — across any genre or era.
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