How to find the BPM of a song
- Play the song and listen for the beat, usually the kick drum or the count you would clap along to.
- Tap the big button, press the space bar or any key on each beat. After a few taps the BPM appears.
- Keep tapping for 10–20 beats; the reading settles as more taps are averaged. Choose how many recent taps to average.
- If the number feels too fast or slow, check the half-time and double-time values: many songs can be felt either way.
How tap tempo works
Beats per minute is 60,000 divided by the average time between beats in milliseconds. Tapping every 500 ms gives 120 BPM. Averaging several taps evens out the natural wobble in human timing; the steadiness indicator compares the spread of your intervals with their average. The counter restarts automatically if you stop for more than three seconds, so you can move straight on to the next song.
Typical tempos: ballads 60–80 BPM, hip-hop 85–100, pop and house 110–128, drum and bass around 170, and running cadence 160–180 steps per minute. DJs use BPM to mix tracks, musicians to set a metronome, and runners to build playlists that match their stride. For a click to play along with, use the metronome.
Timing uses your browser's high-resolution clock; nothing is recorded or uploaded.
How accurate is tap tempo?
After 8–16 steady taps, usually within 1 BPM of the true tempo. The more taps, the better.
Why does my result jump between two values?
You may be tapping slightly unevenly. Keep going: averaging over more taps smooths it out.
Can it detect BPM from an audio file?
This tool measures your taps. Tapping along is often more reliable than automatic detection for songs with complex rhythms.