Find the BPM of a song by tapping
Play the song and tap the pad on every beat, or press the space bar or any other key. The BPM appears after your second tap and settles as you keep going. Ten to fifteen seconds of tapping is a good rule of thumb. The tap tempo counter page explains how the averaging works.
Count the beats yourself
You do not need a tool for a rough answer. Start a timer, count the beats for 15 seconds and multiply by 4. If you count 31 beats, the tempo is about 124 BPM. Counting for 30 seconds and multiplying by 2 is steadier, and a full minute is the most accurate, because one miscounted beat moves the result by 4 BPM in a 15 second count but only 1 BPM in a minute.
Let software do it
Many music production programs include a BPM counter or tempo detection that analyzes an audio file for you. Many DJ programs and controllers also show a track's BPM automatically. Check the result by ear, because detection can land on half or double the tempo you feel. If you work in Logic Pro, Ableton Live or Pro Tools, see tap tempo in your DAW.
Look it up
Lookup services can be quick when you know the exact artist, title and version, since a remix or a live recording can differ from the original. Treat a listed number as a starting point and confirm it by tapping along.
Check your answer with a metronome
Set the metronome to your number and play the song alongside it. If the clicks stay locked to the beat for the whole track, the tempo is right. If they drift apart, tap again or adjust by a BPM or two.
If the number looks doubled or halved
The same music can be counted at two speeds. Read half-time and double-time explained to see why, and use the ½× and 2× buttons above to switch. Once you have the tempo, the BPM to ms calculator turns it into note lengths in milliseconds.
Common questions
How do I find the BPM of a song without an app?
Count the beats for 15 seconds and multiply by 4, or tap along with the tool above, which runs in your browser.
Can this find the BPM of a Spotify or YouTube song?
It does not connect to those services. Play the song and tap along with it.
Is the tempo the same for the whole song?
Not always. Some songs speed up, slow down or change tempo between sections, so tap during a steady part and check another section if the result seems off.