How to use
- Play the song or start the music you want to measure.
- Tap the pad, or press the space bar, on every beat you feel. Use the same note value each time.
- Read the BPM and the Italian marking. Keep tapping for a steadier number.
- Press Open the metronome to practise at that speed, or Reset to measure something else.
How the BPM is calculated
The first tap only starts the clock. Each later tap measures the gap since the one before it. The tool averages the most recent gaps and converts the average to beats per minute with one formula: BPM equals 60000 divided by the average gap in milliseconds. A gap of 500 ms is 120 BPM, and a gap of 1000 ms is 60 BPM. If you stop for more than two and a half seconds, the next tap starts a new measurement.
Italian tempo markings and BPM
Tempo words describe a character as well as a speed. The ranges below are the ones most often printed in music dictionaries and method books. Publishers differ by a few BPM and some terms overlap, so treat the numbers as a guide, and when a composer gives a metronome mark, follow it.
| Marking | BPM | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Grave | 20 to 40 | very slow and solemn |
| Largo | 40 to 60 | broad and slow |
| Larghetto | 60 to 66 | a little less slow than Largo |
| Adagio | 66 to 76 | slow and at ease |
| Andante | 76 to 108 | at a walking pace |
| Moderato | 108 to 120 | moderate |
| Allegretto | 112 to 120 | a little less quick than Allegro |
| Allegro | 120 to 156 | quick and bright |
| Vivace | 156 to 176 | lively |
| Presto | 168 to 200 | very fast |
| Prestissimo | above 200 | as fast as possible |
Which beat should I tap?
Tap the beat you would count aloud. In 4/4 that is usually the quarter note. For a song that feels like it can be counted either fast or slow, the tool will give you a number, and halving or doubling it gives the other valid answer. A tune that taps at 140 can also be felt as 70.
Words that change the tempo
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Accelerando (accel.) | Gradually faster |
| Ritardando (rit.) or rallentando (rall.) | Gradually slower |
| A tempo | Return to the main tempo after a change |
| Tempo primo | Return to the very first tempo |
| Meno mosso | Less movement, so slower |
| Piu mosso | More movement, so faster |
| Stringendo | Pressing forward, getting faster |
| Allargando | Broadening, slower and fuller |
| Rubato | Flexible tempo, with time borrowed and returned |
Using a measured tempo for practice
Start well below the tempo of the recording, where you can play the hardest bar correctly. Raise the speed in small steps once you can play the passage cleanly three times in a row. The metronome link carries your measured BPM across so you do not need to type it again.
Frequently asked questions
How does tap tempo work?
You tap on the beat, the tool measures the time between taps and averages the most recent gaps. It converts the average gap to beats per minute using BPM equals 60000 divided by the gap in milliseconds.
How many taps do I need?
Two taps give a first number, but eight or more give a steadier one. Choose Last 8 gaps for a rolling average that follows tempo changes, or All taps for the average since your last reset.
What is the difference between Andante and Allegro?
Andante is a walking pace, commonly about 76 to 108 BPM. Allegro is quick and bright, commonly about 120 to 156 BPM. Moderato sits between them at around 108 to 120.
Why does my BPM keep changing?
People tap with a natural timing spread of several milliseconds, and the tool shows that spread under the BPM. Tap more times, switch to All taps, or tap against the beat on a speaker rather than from memory.
Should I tap half time or double time?
Tap whichever pulse you would count aloud. If the result feels twice as fast or slow as the music, halve or double the number. Both describe the same music in different note values.
Can I use it to set a metronome?
Yes. After you have a BPM, press Open the metronome and the online metronome opens at the same tempo, rounded to the nearest whole beat.