At 120 BPM every beat lasts half a second, so two clicks make one second. It is an allegro, the classic tempo of marches and a home base for pop, rock and dance music; many club tracks run between 120 and 128 BPM. Drummers and guitarists often treat clean playing at 120 as the next milestone after slow practice.
This page opens the online metronome at 120 BPM, with timing driven by the audio clock, an accented first beat and optional subdivisions.
How to use it
- Press Play or the space bar: the click starts at 120 BPM.
- Choose 2/4 for marches, 4/4 for most pop and rock, or 6/8 for a compound feel.
- If 120 is too fast for now, press −5 a few times to drop to 100 and work back up.
- Add eighth notes (subdivision 2) for a steady 240 clicks per minute for strumming or hi-hat patterns.
Practicing at 120 BPM
Fast tempos expose tension. If your hands tighten at 120, drop the tempo by 10, play the passage relaxed five times, then come back. Practice at half time too: 60 BPM with subdivision 2 gives the same eighth-note grid as 120 without subdivision and helps you hear the space between notes. At 120, sixteenth notes are eight notes per second, a demanding but common speed in rock and metal.
Tips
- Outdoors or with a band, use the Beep sound: it cuts through better than the click.
- Record a take against the click and listen back for rushing on fills.
- Turn the accent off to practice playing across the bar line.
Frequently asked questions
How fast is 120 BPM?
Two beats per second, each lasting 0.5 seconds. It is an allegro.
Is 120 BPM the tempo of most songs?
It is very common in pop and dance music, but songs range from about 60 to over 180 BPM. Press Tap along with a song to measure it.
Is 120 BPM right for CPR?
It is the upper end of the 100 to 120 compressions per minute that CPR guidelines recommend. Learn the technique in a certified course.
What is 120 BPM in half time?
It feels like 60 BPM. In a half-time feel the snare backbeat moves from beats 2 and 4 to beat 3, so the music feels half as fast while the click stays at 120.
Can I use 120 BPM for marching band?
Yes. 120 is the standard march tempo: choose 2/4 or 4/4 and the Beep sound.