How the BPM detector works
The detector listens for the moments where the music suddenly gets louder, like kick drums, snares and strummed chords, and finds the time gap that repeats most steadily between them. That gap is the beat, and 60 divided by it is the BPM. It analyses up to two minutes from the middle of the song, where the beat is usually steadiest.
Why does it show half and double time?
A song at 87 BPM and one at 174 BPM can have exactly the same drum pattern, and musicians disagree about which number to use. Drum and bass is usually called 174 even though it often feels like 87, and a lot of hip-hop is counted around 85 to 95 rather than 170 to 190. If the main number feels too slow or too fast, use the half or double value.
Common tempos by genre
- Hip-hop: 85 to 100 BPM
- Pop: 100 to 130 BPM
- House: 120 to 130 BPM
- Techno: 125 to 140 BPM
- Dubstep: 140 BPM (often felt as 70)
- Drum and bass: 170 to 180 BPM
Questions
Is my song uploaded anywhere?
No. The file is read and analysed by your own browser, so it never leaves your device.
How accurate is it?
For music with a steady beat it is usually within a fraction of a BPM. Songs with tempo changes, live recordings that drift, and ambient or classical pieces without drums are harder; use the tap tempo pad for those.
How do I use tap tempo?
Play the song and tap the pad (or press the space bar while it is focused) on each beat. After four or five taps the BPM settles. Pausing for two seconds starts a new count.