Tap Tempo
Tap to the beat and read the tempo, with the average updating as you go.
How it works
- Play the music you want to measure.
- Tap the button, or press T, in time with the beat.
- Read the BPM; reset to start over.
How the reading is calculated
The tempo is 60 seconds divided by the average time between taps, shown to one decimal. It uses your last 12 taps, so it follows you if the music changes speed, and a pause of two seconds starts a new measurement.
Once there are four intervals, any interval more than 20 percent away from the typical one is ignored, so one late or double tap does not ruin the reading. The tool tells you how many were ignored.
Reading the stability figure
Stability is the spread of your taps as a percentage of the average gap: under 2 percent is steady, under 5 percent fairly steady, above that uneven. Human tapping is rarely better than 1 to 2 percent, so a few more taps usually settle the reading.
Half time and double time
Many tracks can be felt at two speeds, for example 70 or 140 BPM. The half and double values are shown next to the reading so you can pick the one that matches how you count.
Questions
How many taps do I need?
Eight to sixteen taps along a steady stretch of music give a stable reading. You get a first value after two taps.
Can I tap with the keyboard?
Yes. Press T while focus is in the tool, or press Space or Enter on the Tap button. Pressing is counted when the key goes down, not when it is released.
Is tapping or the BPM detector more accurate?
For music with a clear beat both agree closely. Tapping follows your feel of the tempo; the detector measures the audio and can be fooled by half or double time. The BPM detector has a tap-to-verify box to compare the two.
Does the page hear the music?
No. It only records the moments you tap. Nothing is recorded or uploaded.