Free Tool
Tap Tempo: BPM Calculator & Metronome
Find the tempo of any song by tapping to the beat. Works for finding a song's BPM or locking in a tempo before you start writing. Free, no sign-up.
Found your tempo? Set it once in LandChords and chord playback, vocal recording, and drum steps all run at that exact BPM.
No credit card · works in your browser · desktop & mobile
How LandChords uses your BPM
This tool tells you the number. LandChords puts it to work. When you set a BPM on a song in LandChords, that value drives everything in the session:
- Vocal recording: the in-app metronome clicks at your BPM while you record, so takes stay in time without a separate app.
- Chord playback: when you loop a progression through a section, the tempo comes from your song BPM, not a slider you have to re-set each session.
- Drum machine: each step in the drum sequencer is a 16th note at your BPM, so patterns you build feel right in the song from the start.
- Backing track sync: you can import a reference audio file and set an audio-start offset so it aligns to bar 1 at your BPM.
- Per-song control: BPM is stored with the song. Switch songs, switch tempos. The tap tapper is a one-time tool; LandChords keeps the result.
What is BPM?
BPM stands for beats per minute: the number of steady pulses your music has each minute. A song at 120 BPM has two beats per second. BPM determines the energy and feel of a track more than almost any other single setting.
Most songwriting apps, DAWs, and drum machines use BPM as the primary tempo setting. Knowing a song's BPM lets you match loops, quantize recordings, or set a metronome to the right speed before you start writing.
Common BPM ranges by genre
Slow ballads: 60–80 BPM. Think R&B power ballads, gospel, and slow country. The space between beats gives phrases room to breathe.
Pop and folk: 80–120 BPM. The comfortable midrange where most vocals sit naturally. Conversational, singable, works with or without a drum machine.
Dance and hip-hop: 90–130 BPM. Trap hovers around 70 BPM (but with 16th-note hi-hats making it feel faster), house sits at 120–128, pop-dance tends toward 120–125.
Rock and punk: 130–180+ BPM. Driving 4/4 with a strong backbeat on 2 and 4 makes even moderate rock tempos feel intense.
How accurate is tap tempo?
After 4 taps the average is usually within a few BPM of the true tempo. After 8 taps the result is stable. Tap at least 8 times for a reliable reading, especially for faster songs where small timing errors compound quickly.
The calculator averages all intervals between your taps. If you lose the beat and tap late or early once, hit Reset and start again. It's faster than averaging out the mistake.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find the BPM of a song?
Play the song, listen for the kick drum or the beat, and tap this button in time with it. Start after the first beat (so your first tap is on beat 2 or later), then tap steadily. The BPM stabilizes after about 8 taps.
Can I use the spacebar to tap?
Yes. Press spacebar to the beat exactly as you'd click the button. This makes it easier to tap while watching the screen or looking at the song.
What BPM should I write my song at?
Start with how the song feels in your head. Hum or drum the rhythm on a table and tap it here. Genre-wise: 90–120 BPM covers most pop/folk territory; 70–90 for ballads; 120–140 for energetic tracks. There's no wrong answer; tempo is a creative choice.
How do I use this BPM in a songwriting app?
In LandChords, the BPM is set per song and drives the metronome, loop playback, and vocal recording. Set it from the song header once you know your tempo.