Keep one tap for every beat.
Play the music on your speakers or headphones. Find a steady pulse you could nod your head to, then tap the pad or press Space on each beat. You need two taps for the first number; keep going for a steadier estimate.
A TOOL FOR FINDING THE PULSETap Tempo
Tap Tempo
Feel the beat.
Hear a song. Follow its pulse. Tap the pad or press your spacebar to measure the tempo, without choosing an audio file.
FIND IT BY FEELTap into
Tap into
the rhythm.
Play a song and tap along with the beat.
Use your spacebar or the pad to find its tempo.
Your tempo
—BPM
Start tapping to find the pulse.
FOLLOW THE PULSE
How to tap for BPM
Reset when you lose the rhythm.
The counter averages the intervals between your latest taps, up to 12 at a time. A pause longer than 2.5 seconds starts a fresh estimate. Use Reset when you change songs or want to count a different pulse.
Check the number against the music.
Try the verse and chorus separately if the tempo changes. A groove can feel like 70 or 140 BPM depending on which beat you count. If you have the file, use the automatic BPM finder for another measurement.
THE MATH BEHIND THE TAP
500 ms→120 BPM60,000 ÷ average interval
Two taps 500 milliseconds apart give 120 BPM. The counter uses the time between the first and last taps in the current estimate, divided by the number of intervals.
GOOD TO KNOW
A few tapping questions.
Does Tap Tempo listen through my microphone?
No. It measures the timing of your taps. It does not listen to the music, record your microphone or identify a song.
Why does my estimate keep moving?
Your tapping intervals naturally vary. Follow a clear, steady section for several beats. Reset after a missed beat rather than trying to correct it with extra taps.
Can I tap a rhythm to find a song name?
This tool calculates tempo only. It does not match rhythms to a song database or identify a melody.
Can I use it on a phone?
Yes. Tap the pad on each beat. On a computer, Space works while focus is on the page, and the focused pad also supports normal keyboard activation.