For Driving Enthusiasts!? Syncing Your Turn Signal with Music Tempo

Hello everyone!
Whether for commuting, shopping, or enjoying a drive, cars are an essential part of daily life.
I always have music playing while driving, but have you ever had this thought?

“The turn signal’s rhythm feels off with the music playing...”
“Wouldn’t it feel amazing if the song’s tempo perfectly matched the turn signal?”

I thought this was a common feeling, but whenever I mention it to friends, they usually respond with, “What are you talking about?” and the conversation fizzles out.
So today, to resolve this lingering frustration, I’ve decided to find songs that perfectly sync with my turn signal’s tempo!

First off, the flashing interval of turn signals varies depending on the car model.
You’ve probably noticed that when lined up in a turn lane, it’s rare to see another car’s turn signal flash in perfect sync with yours.
I did a bit of research on turn signal blinking.

According to the safety standards set by the Road Transport Vehicle Law:

“Turn signals must flash at a constant cycle of at least 60 times per minute and no more than 120 times per minute.”

So this is the rule.

I’m not an expert on this topic, so if you’re interested, feel free to look into it further, but for today’s topic, the BPM range is 60 to 120.
As long as it’s within this range, it’s acceptable, which explains the slight variations depending on the manufacturer, car model, or even individual vehicles.
There are also reports that the blink rate can change based on whether you’re using headlights or air conditioning, or the condition of the battery. Therefore, it’s necessary to measure the exact BPM of your own car.
Let’s measure it using a metronome.

PLAYTECH / PTM-50BK Tuner/Metronome with a Microphone

With a metronome like this, you can match the blinking of your turn signal and roughly gauge the tempo.

You can easily download metronome apps on your smartphone. Did you know the Sound House app also has a metronome function?

Click the menu bar on the home screen.

Select the tuner function.

Click the metronome button on the tuner screen...

And voilà! The metronome function appears. It’s a lesser-known feature, so I hope you’ll find it useful!

Back to my car.
It’s a 30-year-old vehicle with an analog turn signal sound. No navigation system, and the audio system can only play MDs. Compared to modern cars with all the comforts, it’s practically a relic.

I measured my turn signal’s BPM—around 86.
Now, the task is to find a song with a matching tempo and see how it fits. Let’s check it out!

Close...
Unfortunately, it wasn’t a perfect match, but I was convinced that Deep Purple’s “Highway Star” would work with my turn signal tempo!
However, my car couldn’t keep up with Ian Paice.

Next, I tried Foo Fighters’ “A Matter of Time”.
The turn signal sound is a bit hard to hear, but how does it sound!? The car is grooving along, and it’s quite charming.
This simple joy of syncing turn signals with music tempo is something I’d like to cherish every day.

How did you all find this experiment?
I’m thrilled to have resolved this long-standing itch.
Creating a playlist of songs that sync perfectly with your car’s turn signal could make mundane tasks like turning or changing lanes an entirely new experience.
Depending on the timing, you might even sync the beat on the offbeat!
Just remember, while having fun, always signal at the correct times! It’s a must!

Next time, I’ll be sure to continue the Mysterious Guitar Series.
See you in the next article!