Tempo Calculator
Tap a tempo, find delay times and turn bars into minutes and seconds.
Tap at least four times. You can also focus Tap tempo and press Space.
8 bars at 120 BPM in 4/4 · 16 seconds
| Note | Straight (ms) | Dotted (ms) | Triplet (ms) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/1 | 2,000 | 3,000 | 1,333.33 |
| 1/2 | 1,000 | 1,500 | 666.67 |
| 1/4 | 500 | 750 | 333.33 |
| 1/8 | 250 | 375 | 166.67 |
| 1/16 | 125 | 187.5 | 83.33 |
| 1/32 | 62.5 | 93.75 | 41.67 |
Find a song’s BPM with tap tempo
Tap tempo estimates beats per minute from the time between your taps. Use it to find a starting tempo for a session, match a loop by ear, or set a delay while listening to a track.
- Listen for a steady quarter-note pulse and press Tap tempo on each beat. You can also focus the button and press Space or Enter.
- Tap at least four times. Each tap adds a dot, and the BPM estimate updates as you continue.
- The estimate uses up to your latest 12 taps. Press Reset taps to start again; a pause of more than 3.5 seconds also starts a new sequence on your next tap.
Calculate delay times from BPM
Enter your session tempo to calculate straight, dotted and triplet note lengths in milliseconds. Copy the value into a delay that does not sync to your DAW. You can also use these timings as a starting point for reverb settings, then adjust by ear.
At 120 BPM, a quarter note lasts 500 ms, an eighth note lasts 250 ms, a dotted eighth lasts 375 ms, and an eighth-note triplet lasts about 166.67 ms. The quarter-note formula is 60,000 ÷ BPM. Dotted notes multiply a note’s duration by 1.5; triplets multiply it by two thirds.
Convert bars to minutes and seconds
Choose a time signature and bar count to estimate the length of an intro, loop or arrangement section. Eight bars at 120 BPM last 16 seconds in 4/4, or 12 seconds in 6/8 when BPM counts quarter notes. This calculation assumes the tempo stays constant.
Tempo calculator questions
Why does the BPM change as I tap?
Small differences in your tapping change the average interval. Keep tapping a consistent pulse to settle the estimate, then check the result against your DAW’s grid. Human tapping gives an estimate, so a nearby whole-number tempo may be a better fit.
Why is my result half or twice the tempo?
You may be following half notes or eighth notes instead of quarter notes. Try a slower or faster pulse, or enter half or double the displayed BPM directly.
How should I enter a tempo in 6/8?
This calculator always counts quarter notes for BPM. A bar of 6/8 contains three quarter notes. If you tap the dotted-quarter pulse often felt in 6/8, multiply that estimate by 1.5 and enter it as BPM before using the bar and delay calculations.
Does this detect BPM from an audio file?
No. It measures your taps or uses the BPM you enter. You can listen in any DAW or music player while tapping; the tool does not need a microphone or audio upload.