What is slowed and reverb?
Updated November 2, 2026
Slowed and reverb is a style of remix where a song is played slower and lower, then soaked in echo. The result feels dreamy, nostalgic and far away, which is why it's become one of the most popular ways people share music online.
What it sounds like
- Slower and deeper. The song usually plays at around 80–88% speed. Like a record played slow, the pitch drops too, so voices sound deeper and bass feels heavier.
- Lots of space. Reverb makes every sound ring out, as if the song is playing in a big empty room.
- Softer highs. Many edits also roll off the treble so the track feels hazy and distant.
Where it came from
The idea of slowing music down goes back to DJ Screw (Robert Earl Davis Jr.), a Houston DJ who in the early 1990s created "chopped and screwed" mixes: rap songs slowed to a crawl, with skips, repeats and scratches. His tapes, known as "screw tapes," shaped Houston hip-hop and influenced artists across the world. DJ Screw died in 2000, but his sound kept spreading.
In the late 2010s a new version took off on YouTube and SoundCloud. Uploaders began slowing down pop, R&B and rap songs and adding heavy reverb, often paired with an anime or night-sky image. These "slowed + reverb" uploads collected huge view counts, and the sound moved onto TikTok, where slowed versions of songs regularly trend.
Slowed + reverb vs. chopped and screwed
| Chopped and screwed | Slowed + reverb | |
|---|---|---|
| Era | Early 1990s onward | Late 2010s onward |
| Home | Houston mixtapes | YouTube, SoundCloud, TikTok |
| Speed | Very slow | Moderately slow, often 80–88% |
| Signature | Chops, skips and repeats | Heavy reverb and a dreamy feel |
Why people love it
Slowing a song stretches out moments you'd normally rush past. The deeper tone and echo make familiar songs feel emotional, nostalgic or calm, which suits late-night listening, studying and short videos.
Make your own
You can make a slowed and reverb version of any song in your browser for free. Follow the step-by-step guide or jump straight in.