Drummers and bands
Check the tempo of the next song in the set before you count it in.
Tap tempo: find the BPM by tapping
No file needed. Tap along to the song you are hearing.
Tap any key, click or press the space bar on each beat. After four taps you see the BPM; it averages your last eight taps, and a two-second pause starts over.
Your tempo
–
Tap at least 4 times
- Works with any song you can hear
- Free, no sign-up
- A number after 4 taps
How the number settles
An example of eight taps along to a song at 123 BPM.
Windows Down
Sunny summer pop · female vocals · 2:30
Play it, then tap along in the tool above.
Taps 1 to 3
Nothing shows yet. One tap early or late would swing the number too far.
Tap 4
The first BPM appears. It can still be a few beats off.
Taps 5 to 8
It averages your last eight taps, so the number settles close to the real tempo.
Tap Tempo at a glance
How it listens to you, and when it starts over.
- Tap with
- The space bar, any key, a mouse click or a finger on the circle
- First number
- After 4 taps
- Average
- Your last 8 taps
- Start over
- Pause for 2 seconds, or press Reset
- Half and double
- One click each, for songs that feel twice as fast or slow
- Price
- Free, no sign-up, works offline once the page is open
How to find the BPM by tapping
Ten seconds, start to finish.
- 1
Play the song
Play it anywhere: a speaker, your phone, a band in the room.
- 2
Tap on the beat
Tap the space bar or the circle on every beat. Keep going for eight taps.
- 3
Read the BPM
Read the number. If it feels twice too fast or slow, press Half time or Double time.
Who taps the tempo
Anyone who needs the beat of a song they are hearing right now.
Dance teachers
Find the tempo of a track so the routine fits the count.
Half time or double time?
“Windows Down” is 123 BPM, but many people tap it at 62.
62 BPM
Tapping on every other beat: on the kick and snare only.
123 BPM
The tempo a DJ app or our Key Finder reads from the file.
246 BPM
Tapping on the hi-hat. Press Half time to get back to 123.
Tap tempo or a BPM finder?
Tap when you can hear the song; use a file when you have one.
| Tap Tempo | Key Finder (BPM from a file) | |
|---|---|---|
| Needs a file? | Tap Tempo: No. Tap to any song you hear | Key Finder (BPM from a file): Yes: MP3, WAV, M4A or FLAC |
| How fast | Tap Tempo: A number after 4 taps | Key Finder (BPM from a file): A few seconds after you drop the file |
| Shows the key? | Tap Tempo: No | Key Finder (BPM from a file): Yes, with the relative key and Camelot code |
| Best for | Tap Tempo: Live music, a radio, a song in a shop | Key Finder (BPM from a file): Songs on your computer or phone |
Questions about Tap Tempo
How many taps do I need?
You see a number after four taps. Keep going to eight and it settles, because it averages your last eight taps.
Why do I get double or half the BPM?
You may be tapping every beat, or every other one. Use the half and double buttons: a song at 123 BPM can also be felt at 62, and both numbers are right.
Which beat should I tap?
The one you would clap or nod to, usually the kick and the snare. Keep tapping the same one until the number settles.
How do I turn BPM into a delay time?
Divide 60,000 by the BPM to get one beat in milliseconds. At 120 BPM a beat is 500 ms, an eighth note 250 ms and a dotted eighth 375 ms.
Can I tap on my phone?
Yes. Tap the big circle with your finger. It works in any phone browser, with no app.
Is there a song I can tap along to?
Yes. Windows Down further down this page plays at 123 BPM. Press Play and tap, and you should land near 123, or near 62 if you tap every other beat.
Can I use the keyboard instead of clicking?
Yes. On a computer the space bar works as a tap, and so does any other key.
Not covered here.Ask us something else
Make a song at your tempo
Tapped 123? Ask for a song at 123 BPM. Describe a mood, pick a voice and hear two full songs in about a minute.
Make a song at 123 BPMTwo free songs, no account needed.