Tap BPM

Tap along to the beat of any song to find its tempo in BPM, with your mouse, keyboard or finger.

Have the audio file? Detect its BPM and key automatically

How tap tempo works

Every tap marks a beat. The tool times the gaps between your taps and averages the most recent ones, so the reading follows the song if it speeds up or slows down. A stray tap, an accidental double tap or a missed beat is left out, so one slip does not throw the number off.

  • Start on a strong beat

    Count along with the song (1, 2, 3, 4) and begin on the 1, where the kick drum or the bass usually lands. Tap the beat you would clap or nod to.

  • Tap at least eight beats

    The first taps give a rough estimate. Over eight or more beats, small timing slips even out and the number settles.

  • Look for Stable

    Once about ten of your taps land close to a steady beat, the reading is marked Stable: a good moment to read it or copy it. If the mark does not come, tap along with a clear sound such as the kick drum or the snare.

  • Pause to start again

    Stop for about two seconds and your next tap starts a new count. The last result stays on the pad until the new one appears; Reset or Esc clears it at once.

Half time, double time and typical tempos

The same song can be counted at two speeds. The half and double values under the reading and the typical ranges below help you pick the one you need.

Half time and double time

  • Tapping every other beat halves the reading, and tapping every eighth note doubles it. 70 and 140 BPM can describe the same groove.
  • Heavy, slow-feeling styles such as trap and dubstep are often felt at half time: a 140 BPM dubstep track can feel like 70.
  • Drum and bass is usually counted at full speed, around 170 to 175 BPM, even when the drums feel half as fast.
  • When a metronome, a DJ app or an editor shows another number, check whether it is half or double your reading.
Typical tempo ranges by genre, with the half- or double-time value you may tap instead
GenreTypical BPMHalf or double
Slow ballads and soul60–80120–160
Hip-hop and R&B80–100160–200
Reggaeton and dancehall88–100176–200
Pop100–13050–65
Rock and indie110–14055–70
Disco and funk110–12555–63
House118–13059–65
Trap and drill135–15068–75
Dubstep14070
Drum and bass165–18083–90

Who taps the tempo

Anyone who hears a song and needs its speed as a number, right away.

  • DJs and playlists

    Check the tempo of a track playing in the club, on the radio or from a friend’s speaker, then line up songs that mix at a similar BPM.

  • Drummers and bands

    Set your metronome or click track to a song’s tempo before you practice, or check whether a live take rushes or drags.

  • Dancers and fitness

    Match a routine, a spin class or a running playlist to the BPM it needs, and find songs at the right pace.

  • Producers and video editors

    Set your project tempo to match a reference song, or cut a video to the beat of its soundtrack.

How to find the BPM of a song by tapping

Three steps, all on this page.

  1. Play the song

    Start the song anywhere: a streaming app, the radio, a video or a band in the room.

  2. Tap along

    Tap the pad or press any key on every beat. Space works well on a keyboard; on a phone, tap with one finger.

  3. Read or copy the BPM

    The BPM shows from the second tap and settles as you go. When it is marked Stable, press Copy BPM to use it elsewhere.

Frequently asked questions