BPM to MSFind your tempo.
Tap the circle. Find your BPM.
Follow the beat. Your BPM appears after two taps.
Live BPM timing values
| BPM/Tempo | 1/4 | 1/8 | 1/8T | 1/16 | 1/32 | 1/64 | 1/128 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
A beat is all you need.
Find the tempo of a song, a loop, or an idea in your head. No audio upload or setup needed.
- 01
Listen for the pulse.
Count along with the music until you feel a steady beat. Follow that pulse through the melody and drum fills, then tap the circle or press Space once per beat.
- 02
Settle into the rhythm.
Two taps give a first estimate. Aim for four to eight even taps and watch the reading settle. The small dots show how many recent taps are in the current sequence.
- 03
Put the tempo to work.
Choose Use this BPM to open the timing calculator with your result. Pick a note length, then copy its milliseconds into your delay, reverb, or modulation effect.
What is tap tempo?
Tap tempo estimates the speed of music from a series of taps. BPM means beats per minute: 120 BPM is two beats every second, while 60 BPM is one.
This calculator measures the intervals between your taps and averages the most recent ones. It divides 60,000 by that average interval in milliseconds. Taps spaced 500 milliseconds apart give 120 BPM.
It is useful when you know how a rhythm feels but do not know its tempo: checking a sample, matching an effect to a recording, or bringing a new musical idea into your session.
Get a steadier reading.
- Follow one consistent beat. A busy hi-hat pattern can lead you to tap twice as fast. Count a quarter-note pulse when you want to use the result in the calculator.
- Give it a few beats. More even taps smooth out small timing differences. If you miss a beat, use Reset and start again.
- Check a few sections. Live performances can speed up or slow down. Tap another passage to check the local tempo; a single reading may not fit the whole recording.
Working below 30 BPM? Enter your tempo manually so the two-second tap timeout does not interrupt your beat.
Take your tempo into the mix.
A BPM reading becomes useful when it sets the timing of an effect. At 120 BPM, a quarter-note delay is 500 ms and a dotted eighth is 375 ms. Choose a division that supports the rhythm, then adjust by ear.
Tap tempo questions, answered.
How many times should I tap?
Two taps give the first BPM estimate. Try four to eight evenly spaced taps for a steadier reading. The result averages the intervals between your latest eight taps, so you can keep tapping as you settle into the beat.
Why does the BPM change with each tap?
Small differences in your timing change the average. Listen for a regular pulse, use the same finger or key, and tap once per beat. A result with decimal places is still an estimate; use the known project tempo when you need an exact match.
Why am I getting half or double the expected BPM?
You may be tapping every other beat, or following a subdivision such as eighth notes. For example, the same music can feel like 70 or 140 BPM. Count a steady quarter-note pulse when you plan to use the result in the BPM to milliseconds calculator.
What happens when I stop tapping?
A pause longer than two seconds clears the tap history while keeping your last BPM available. Use this BPM sends that result to the calculator. Your next tap begins a fresh sequence, and Reset clears both the history and the displayed result.
Can I measure very slow or fast tempos?
Results are limited to 20–400 BPM. Because a pause longer than two seconds starts a new sequence, enter tempos below 30 BPM directly in the calculator. Tap a consistent beat at faster tempos; extra clicks can inflate the estimate.
Can I use a phone or keyboard?
Yes. Touch the circle on a phone or tablet, click it with a mouse, or press Space. You can also focus the circle with Tab and press Enter. Use a separate press for each beat; holding a key does not add taps.
Does Tap Tempo listen to or record audio?
No microphone access or audio upload is needed. This tool measures the time between your taps in your browser. Play the music wherever you like and follow the beat yourself.