The fastest way to find a song's tempo is to tap along with it, and that is exactly what this BPM counter does: on every tap it measures the gap since the previous one, averages the last twelve and turns that into beats per minute. Four or five taps give you a number; ten give you a steady reading. Stop tapping for three seconds and the count starts over, ready for the next song.
Next to the BPM you get the tempo marking (Adagio, Andante, Allegro…) and a chart with the length of each note value in milliseconds and in hertz, which is what you need to sync a delay, an LFO or an arpeggiator to the track. Nothing is recorded or uploaded: the page only measures your taps.
How to use it
- Play the song and tap the big pad on every downbeat (or on every beat, if you prefer). On a computer, the space bar, Enter or the T key count as taps too.
- After a few taps the BPM shows up in large digits, with the tempo marking underneath. Keep tapping until the number stops jumping around.
- Min and max show how much your taps varied; if they are more than 5 or 6 BPM apart, tap more evenly or follow a more clearly marked beat in the song.
- To convert a BPM you already know, type it into the or type the BPM field: the note value chart updates right away.
- Found the tempo? Open the online metronome and set it to the same number to practice the song at the right speed.
BPM to ms: what it is for
At 120 BPM a quarter note (crotchet) lasts 500 ms, an eighth note (quaver) 250 ms and a sixteenth note (semiquaver) 125 ms. Those are the numbers you dial into a delay pedal or plugin so the repeats land in time with the song, or into a synth's LFO so the tremolo pulses with the beat. The hertz column gives the same information as a frequency (2 Hz = two beats per second = 120 BPM), handy for synths and synced lighting. The formula is simple: milliseconds = 60,000 ÷ BPM, multiplied by the note's fraction of a beat (0.5 for an eighth note, 1.5 for a dotted quarter, 1/3 for an eighth-note triplet).
Why the number wobbles
Nobody taps with clockwork precision; a swing of 2 or 3 BPM between taps is normal and the average smooths it out. Bigger swings come from switching what you tap (sometimes quarter notes, sometimes eighths), from songs in free time or rubato, or from old recordings made without a click, where the tempo itself drifts across the track. In those cases, measure each section separately. For an exact reading from an audio file, use the Lalatone song key and BPM finder.
Tips
- On fast songs, tap only the downbeat (beat 1 of each bar): the number comes out the same and it is easier to stay even.
- In 6/8 or swing feels, decide first whether you are counting the pulse (2 per bar) or the eighth notes (6): the BPM changes accordingly.
- On a phone, rest the device on a table and tap the lower part of the pad with your thumb; on a computer, the space bar is more precise than the mouse.
- Half time or double time? If the result feels too slow (60) for an upbeat song, you probably tapped beats 1 and 3; the tempo you feel is 120.
- Write the BPM on the sheet music or chord chart: it makes practicing with a metronome and agreeing on a tempo with the band much easier.
Frequently asked questions
How many taps does it take to measure the BPM?
A number appears on the second tap and becomes reliable after about eight, once the average has absorbed small variations. The counter uses the last twelve intervals.
Does the BPM counter work with music playing on the same phone?
Yes. It doesn't use the microphone, only your taps on the screen or keyboard, so the music can play on the same device, on another one or live.
How do I convert BPM to ms?
Divide 60,000 by the BPM to get the length of a quarter note in milliseconds, then multiply by the note's fraction (eighth note 0.5, sixteenth note 0.25, dotted 1.5). The chart does the math for the most common note values.
Why does the chart show hertz?
Hertz is the same measurement seen as a frequency: 120 BPM equals 2 Hz, one beat every half second. Many synths and effects set LFO and tremolo rates in Hz.
Can I get the BPM of an audio file automatically?
Yes, with the song key and BPM finder: it analyzes the audio file on your device and estimates the tempo and key without uploading anything to a server.
Does the tap tempo reset by itself?
Yes. After three seconds without taps, the next tap starts a new measurement, so you can move from one song to the next without pressing anything. Untick the option if you'd rather reset manually.