How the BPM finder works
Tempo is how fast the beat goes, counted in beats per minute. The BPM finder listens for the rhythm envelope of a song, the pattern of rises in energy from drum hits and strong notes. It then looks for the repeating interval that fits best and turns it into a BPM.
It searches between 70 and 180 BPM, which covers most popular music. The result is an estimate, and it is good practice to check it against your own ears.
Because it runs in your browser, there is nothing to install and no waiting in a queue. Drop a file and the estimate appears once the song has been analysed. You can then check it by tapping along, or take it straight into the BPM changer to set a new tempo.
Typical BPM by genre
Use this to sanity check a result. If a house track reads as 62, it is probably 124.
| Genre | Typical BPM |
|---|---|
| Ballads | 60 to 80 |
| Hip hop | 85 to 100 |
| Pop | 100 to 130 |
| House | 118 to 128 |
| Techno | 125 to 140 |
| Trap | 130 to 150, often felt at half |
| Drum and bass | 160 to 176 |
Why you need the BPM of a song
Knowing the tempo helps with lots of tasks:
Tempo is also a quick way to organise a music library. Sort songs by BPM and you can build warm up, peak and cool down sections for a workout or a DJ set in minutes.
- DJs planning a set and matching tracks.
- Producers setting a project tempo for a remix.
- Musicians setting a metronome to practise with a song.
- Runners building playlists that match their cadence.
- Video editors cutting to the beat.
- Dance teachers choosing music for a class.
Half time and double time
Many songs can be counted two ways. A trap beat at 140 BPM can feel like 70. A drum and bass track at 174 has a half-time feel of 87. The BPM finder might report either one.
If the number looks off, double it or halve it and see which matches the way you would tap your foot. Both are correct in a sense. The one you want depends on what you are matching it to.
Limits of BPM detection
The search range is 70 to 180 BPM. Songs outside that range will read as a multiple or fraction inside it. Live recordings that speed up and slow down, songs with tempo changes, and ambient tracks with no clear beat give less reliable estimates. Treat the result as a strong starting point, not a guarantee.
If you get an unexpected result, the drum stem trick above often fixes it, since the drums carry the clearest rhythm.
Get a cleaner BPM reading
The BPM finder listens to the rhythm of the whole file, so anything that blurs the beat makes the job harder. A few tricks help.
The BPM finder listens to a stretch from the middle of the song, so a long ambient intro will not throw it. Songs with a half-time bridge or free-time sections can still read oddly. For busy mixes, split the song with the stem splitter and run the drum stem through the BPM finder on its own. With nothing but drums, the rhythm is much clearer.
Finally, tap along. If you count four beats in a bar and the number feels right, you are done. If you find yourself tapping twice per reported beat, double it.
- Use a section with a steady beat.
- Run the isolated drum stem for busy mixes.
- Check against the genre table above.
- Tap along to confirm half or double time.
Private BPM detection
The analysis runs in your browser. Your song is not uploaded, and there is no account or cost. It works in desktop and mobile browsers. Once you have the tempo, you can change it with the BPM changer.