Best Tap Dance Music Picks: Groove to These Must-Have Tracks
Whether you're practicing in your living room or performing on stage, the right music can make your taps sing. We've curated 10 essential tracks across genres that deliver irresistible rhythms, from classic jazz to modern beats that'll make your feet fly.
Sing Sing Sing
Benny Goodman
The ultimate swing era classic with Gene Krupa's legendary drum solo. Perfect for fast, rhythmic tapping with its driving pulse and explosive energy.
Fever
Peggy Lee
This sultry jazz standard offers a slow, sensual groove that's perfect for practicing control and subtle syncopation. The space between notes is just as important as the taps themselves.
Uptown Funk
Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
Modern funk at its finest, with a beat that practically demands tap improvisation. The crisp snare hits create natural opportunities for syncopated steps.
Sweet Georgia Brown
Brother Bones & His Shadows
The unofficial anthem of tap dancers everywhere, famously used by the Harlem Globetrotters. Its bouncy rhythm is ideal for practicing time steps and paddle rolls.
Seven Nation Army
The White Stripes (Swing Cover)
Postmodern Jukebox's swing version transforms this rock anthem into a tap-friendly jam. The recognizable bassline becomes a fantastic foundation for rhythmic variations.
Footprints
Miles Davis
This modal jazz masterpiece offers a sophisticated 6/8 time signature that challenges dancers to explore unconventional phrasing and musicality.
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Michael Jackson
Disco meets tap in this Quincy Jones-produced gem. The layered percussion tracks invite dancers to highlight different rhythmic elements with their feet.
Moondance
Van Morrison
The jazzy, romantic swing of this classic allows for lyrical tap expression. Perfect for working on fluidity and storytelling through movement.
Bad Guy
Billie Eilish (Tap Remix)
Contemporary pop gets the tap treatment in this remix that emphasizes the bass drops and silences. Great for practicing stops, starts, and dramatic pauses.
Jumpin' at the Woodside
Count Basie
Basie's signature tune delivers relentless swing energy. The call-and-response sections between brass and rhythm make for fantastic tap choreography opportunities.