Tap Tempo
Tap along to any song to find its BPM, then hear it on the metronome and get delay times in milliseconds for your pedal or plugin.
Tap the pad, or press the spacebar, on every beat
Metronome
Delay times at this tempo
- Works with touch, mouse or keyboard
- Accurate to 0.1 BPM
- Free, no app
How to find BPM by tapping
- Start the song and listen for the pulse you’d naturally clap or nod your head to. This is usually the kick and snare pattern.
- Tap the pad, or press the spacebar, on every beat. Keep going for at least eight taps.
- Watch the number settle. The decimal value shows the precise average.
- If it feels too fast or slow, press ÷2 or ×2. Many songs can be counted at half or double time.
- Press Start metronome and play the song along with it to double-check.
Have the song as a file, or can you play it out loud? The BPM finder analyzes the audio for you, finds the key too, and doesn’t depend on your timing.
Tap tempo for delay pedals
Delay pedals and plugins with tap tempo set the echo time from the interval between your taps. The table above converts the tempo into milliseconds for every common note value, which is handy when your pedal has a time knob instead of a tap switch, or when you want the classic dotted-eighth “rhythmic delay” sound. The formula is simple: 60,000 ÷ BPM = one quarter note in ms. Read more in what is tap tempo?
Tap tempo in your DAW
Ableton Live, FL Studio, Pro Tools and Reaper have tap tempo built in, while Logic Pro needs a key command and GarageBand for Mac has none. Our step-by-step guide shows how to tap tempo in Logic, Ableton, FL Studio, Pro Tools and more, or you can find the BPM here and type it in.
Tap tempo FAQ
How do I use tap tempo?
Tap the big pad, or press the spacebar or T key, in time with the beat of the music. After two taps you’ll see a BPM, and it gets more accurate with every tap. Stop for a few seconds and the next tap starts a new count.
How many taps do I need for an accurate BPM?
At least eight. Each tap is a little early or late, and averaging more taps cancels those errors out. Sixteen taps of steady tapping will usually land within 1 BPM of the true tempo.
What’s the difference between tap tempo and a BPM finder?
Tap tempo relies on your sense of rhythm, so it works for anything you can hear, even a song in your head. A BPM finder analyzes the audio itself. For a song you have as a file or can play aloud, the BPM finder is more precise. Tap tempo is quicker for live music and rehearsals.
How do I convert BPM to milliseconds for a delay?
Divide 60,000 by the BPM to get one quarter note in milliseconds. At 120 BPM that’s 500 ms. An eighth note is half that (250 ms), and a dotted eighth is three quarters of it (375 ms). The delay time table on this page does the math for every common note value.
Can I use this as a metronome?
Yes. Set or tap the tempo, pick a time signature and press Start metronome. The first beat of each bar is accented. Use the ÷2 and ×2 buttons to practice at half or double speed.
Does tap tempo work on my phone?
Yes. The tap pad responds instantly to touch on iPhone and Android, and the metronome plays through your speaker or headphones. Turn off silent mode on iPhone if you can’t hear the click.