How tap tempo works
Each tap is stamped with the moment you pressed. The tool takes the gap between each pair of taps, averages them, and turns the average into beats per minute: 60,000 divided by the average gap in milliseconds. Taps 500 ms apart read as 120 BPM, and taps a second apart as 60.
A few rules keep it honest. Only your most recent 8 taps count, so an early wobble drops out and the reading can follow a tempo that changes. A gap that is far off the rest, such as a missed beat or a double tap, is left out of the average. Taps closer together than the fastest tempo the tool allows are treated as a bounce, not a beat. And a pause of about two seconds starts a fresh reading, which is why the slowest tempo you can tap is around 30 BPM.
How many taps do you need?
Two taps give you one gap, so a reading appears after your second tap, but it is rough. Every extra tap adds another gap to the average and the wobble in your timing evens out. There is no magic count. Watch the BPM: when it stops moving much from tap to tap, you have it.
The Tap spread figure helps. It shows how much your gaps vary, as a percentage of the average gap. A small spread means your taps were steady and the reading is trustworthy. A large one means tap more evenly, or keep going until it falls.
Find a song's BPM by ear
- Find the pulse. It is the beat you would tap your foot to, often carried by the kick drum or the bass.
- Listen for a few bars first, then start tapping on every beat, not on every note.
- Keep going until the BPM settles and the spread is low.
- Check it. Press Start and listen: if the click locks to the track, you have the tempo. If it slides against the music, tap again.
- Or count. Count the beats in fifteen seconds and multiply by four. Thirty beats, for example, is 120 BPM.
Half time and double time
Many songs can be felt at two speeds. A track at 70 BPM can feel like 140 BPM if you count the offbeats, and the reverse. Both are the same pulse. Pick the one you would naturally dance or count to. For practising a fast part slowly, the lower number is the useful one.
Tips for a steadier reading
- Listen, don't watch the screen. Tap with the same finger every time.
- Wait for the groove to settle. A song that starts with a loose intro may have a different tempo from its main section.
- Live recordings drift because players speed up and slow down, so expect the spread to be larger than on a track built to a click.
- If screen taps feel laggy on your device, a key press is a good alternative. Press T on a keyboard.
- To practise at the tempo you found, press Start, or open the full metronome for time signatures, accents and a practice timer.
Questions
How do I tap tempo to find the BPM of a song?
Play the song, wait until you feel the beat, then tap the button or press T on every beat. After your second tap a BPM appears, and it settles as you keep tapping. Tap on the beat, such as the kick drum, rather than on every note. Press Start to check the click against the music.
How many taps does tap tempo need?
You get a reading after two taps, but it improves as you add more, because each tap adds another gap to the average. This tool averages your latest 8 taps. When the BPM stops moving much and the tap spread is small, you have a reliable figure. If it keeps wandering, tap more evenly.
Why does tap tempo give a different BPM each time?
Human taps are never perfectly even, and screens and keyboards add small delays of their own. Averaging smooths that out, but two readings can still differ by a point or two. Live recordings also speed up and slow down. Tap for longer, and watch whether the spread falls.
Is my song 70 BPM or 140 BPM?
Possibly both. Many songs can be felt at half or double a tempo, and the pulse is the same. Choose the speed you would naturally count or dance to. If you are learning a fast part, the lower figure is often the easier one to practise with, and you can double it later.
How can I find a song's BPM without tapping?
Listen for the beat and count how many fall in fifteen seconds, then multiply by four. For example, thirty beats in fifteen seconds is 120 BPM. Counting for a longer stretch, such as thirty seconds and multiplying by two, smooths out small mistakes. Then enter the number in the metronome and listen to check.
What is the slowest tempo I can tap?
A pause of about two seconds starts a new reading, so the slowest tempo you can tap is around 30 BPM. For slower music, tap on every second beat and double the result, then enter it. The metronome itself runs down to 20 BPM.