BPM tap counter
Tap along to a beat to estimate its tempo. Use the spacebar or tap the pad, adjust half or double time, and take the BPM into your next song.
Start whenever you're ready.
Keep tapping evenly for a steadier reading. A pause longer than three seconds starts a new count.
How it works
How to use the BPM tap counter
- 01
Listen for a steady pulse
Follow the regular beat rather than every drum hit. Tap the pad on each beat, or press the spacebar when you are not editing a field.
- 02
Keep tapping evenly
The counter uses recent intervals between taps and filters large timing deviations. A longer run of steady taps gives a more useful estimate than one quick pair.
- 03
Use the tempo
Choose half or double time if the reading follows a different pulse. Copy the BPM or carry it into the song maker's sound direction.
Find the pulse
A BPM counter for the beat you hear.
BPM means beats per minute. This BPM tapper estimates that number from your taps, so you can describe a song's pace without opening a recording app.
A tempo for a new song
Tap the pace you imagine singing at, then use that number as part of the musical brief. It is a starting direction, not a guarantee of an exact generated tempo.
A rehearsal starting point
Listen to a recording and tap the beat before setting a metronome. If the performance speeds up or slows down, the reading will shift too.
Checking half-time feel
A spacious groove may feel slow even when the subdivisions are fast. Compare the half-time and double-time readings before deciding how to describe it.
An example to work from
The same music can be counted two ways.
The count
You tap a beat every half second while listening to a steady rhythm. The counter reads about 120 BPM. If you tap only every other beat, it reads about 60 BPM.
Half time and double time change how you count the pulse. They do not change the speed of an audio file. Use the reading that best communicates the musical feel you want.
Try your own ideaIllustrative writing example
Beat interval: 0.5 seconds 60 ÷ 0.5 = 120 BPM Every other beat: 1 second 60 ÷ 1 = 60 BPM
Make it your own
Get a steadier tempo reading.
Tap the beat, not the decoration
Quick hi-hats and fills can sit between the main beats. Follow the pulse you would count as one, two, three, four rather than matching every sound.
Expect a human estimate
Your own timing affects the result. The counter smooths recent taps, ignores very quick accidental double taps and starts a new count after a pause longer than three seconds.
Keep tempo separate from length
BPM describes pace, not how many minutes the song lasts. In the composer you choose the target duration separately and can add a tempo to The sound.
Keep writing
Count beats, bars and song sections
Use a steady pulse to understand how verses and choruses fit into an arrangement.
A little help
Questions about the BPM tap counter?
Something else on your mind?
Ask us about tempo or using it in the song maker.
How does the BPM tap counter work?
It measures the milliseconds between your recent taps, filters large timing deviations and converts the average interval into beats per minute. It keeps up to twelve recent intervals and supports estimates from 20 to 600 BPM. Two consistent beats at a new speed start a fresh estimate.
Can I use the keyboard?
Yes. Press the spacebar on each beat when you are not focused on a form field, link or another button. You can also focus the tap pad and use its normal keyboard button control.
Does the tool analyse or upload my audio?
No. This is a manual tap counter, not an audio analyser. It does not use your microphone or upload a recording. The tempo calculation runs in your browser without AI calls.
Why am I seeing half or twice the tempo I expected?
You may be following a slower pulse or a faster subdivision. Use Half time or Double time to compare the readings. The buttons adjust the displayed estimate without changing any audio.
Can I take this BPM into the song generator?
Yes. Use this tempo opens the composer with the number in The sound. It does not create audio automatically. Generating a song still requires sign-in and an available song credit from your existing allowance.
