Tap Tempo

What this tap tempo tool does

This tap tempo tool works out the BPM (beats per minute) of any song, drum loop or click as you tap along. Tap the green pad, or press any key, in time with the beat. After four taps it shows the tempo, and every extra tap makes the reading more accurate. It also gives you the beat length in milliseconds, matching delay and reverb times, the classical tempo name, and a metronome to check your result by ear.

How to use it

1. Start the music and listen for the steady pulse, usually the kick and snare.
2. Tap the pad or press any key on each beat. Tap at least 4 times; 8 to 16 taps give a solid result.
3. Read the BPM. Steadiness tells you if your taps were even enough to trust.
4. Paused for more than 2 seconds? The next tap starts a fresh count. Esc resets at any time.
5. Press ▶ Play to hear a metronome at the measured tempo and check it against the track.

Half time and double time

If you tapped on every other beat, or on every eighth note, the number will be half or double the “real” tempo. A song at 140 BPM can feel like 70. Use ½ Half and ×2 Double to switch. DJ software and most music sites list the faster value for dance music and the slower one for hip-hop and ballads.

Delay and reverb times

The table converts the tempo into milliseconds for whole, half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth and thirty-second notes, with dotted and triplet versions. Set a delay to the quarter-note value and the echoes land exactly on the beat; a dotted eighth gives the classic rhythmic delay used in rock and pop. The quarter note in milliseconds is always 60,000 divided by the BPM.

Frequently asked questions

How many taps do I need?

Four taps give a first reading. Eight or more give a result within about one BPM for most people. Choose all taps in the averaging menu for slow songs.

Why does my BPM jump around?

Uneven taps. Tap on the snare or kick rather than the melody, and keep going: averaging over more taps smooths out small timing errors.

What BPM is a normal song?

Most pop songs sit between 90 and 130 BPM. Hip-hop is often 80 to 100, house around 120 to 128, drum and bass 160 to 175.

Does it work on a phone?

Yes. Tap the pad with your finger; the metronome plays through your phone’s speaker or headphones.

Read our guide on how to find the BPM of a song. Need a counter instead? Try the tally counter or test your speed with the CPS test.