Find any song’s BPM — then actually use it
Most tappers give you a number and stop. This one clicks the tempo back so you can confirm it by ear, rates how steady your tap was, and hands you every delay and reverb time for that tempo on the spot.
Your tempo, as delay & reverb times
The instant you have a BPM, here is every sync time you’d reach for in a mix. No mental maths, no second tab.
| Note value | Delay (ms) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 1/2 note | — | Wide, spacious echoes |
| 1/4 note | — | Classic delay & reverb pre-delay anchor |
| 1/4 dotted | — | Lead vocals, melodic synths |
| 1/8 note | — | Tight rhythmic slap |
| 1/8 dotted | — | The classic “pumping” delay |
| 1/8 triplet | — | Shuffle & swing feels |
| 1/16 note | — | Doubling thickener, fast slap |
How to get an accurate reading
Four taps gives a rough number. Eight to twelve locks it in. Here’s how to get it right first time.
Tap the kick, not the melody
The kick or snare backbeat is the steadiest pulse in almost any track. Melodies syncopate and will throw your timing off.
Watch the confidence meter
It rises as your taps get steadier. When it goes green, your reading has stabilised and you can trust the number.
Click it back to confirm
Hit “Click it back” and the tool plays a metronome at your tapped tempo. If it locks to the track, you’ve nailed it. If it drifts, you may have caught a half-time or double-time feel.
Mind half-time and double-time
A 140 BPM track can feel like 70. If your reading is half or double what the genre suggests, that’s usually why. House lives near 120-128, techno 125-135, hip-hop 80-100, drum & bass 170-175.
Typical tempos by genre
Tapped a number and want a sanity check? Here’s where the common genres sit. If your reading is far off, you’ve likely caught a half- or double-time feel.
The Tempo & Delay Cheat Sheet
Everything this tool calculates, on one clean page you can print and pin above the desk. Built for producers who’d rather glance than calculate mid-session.
- Tempo ranges for 16 genres
- Delay times for every common BPM
- The dotted-eighth and triplet values pros actually use
- Reverb pre-delay and LFO sync tricks
Get the cheat sheet
Free. Straight to your inbox.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Confirm your email and the cheat sheet is yours. See you in there.
Why the tempo is only the start
A BPM isn’t just a number for the transport bar. Delay times that sync to tempo sit in the pocket where unsynced ones smear. Reverb pre-delays tuned to a 16th note keep vocals upfront. Even compressor release times feel better near the track’s pulse. That’s why this tool doesn’t stop at the number — and why the next thing you reach for is usually one of these.
Questions, answered
How accurate is tap-based BPM detection?
With 8-12 steady taps you’ll land within half a BPM of the true tempo, which is more than enough for DJing, remixing, and delay calculations. The confidence meter tells you when you’re there, and the click-back lets you verify by ear.
What does “click it back” do?
It plays a metronome at exactly the tempo you tapped. Play it against the track: if it stays locked, your reading is correct; if it drifts, you’ve likely caught a half- or double-time feel. No other free tapper closes this loop.
Is it free? Do I need an account?
Completely free, no signup to use the tool. The optional cheat sheet asks for an email so we can send it, nothing more.
Does it work on mobile?
Yes. Tap the dark panel with your finger; the click-back and confidence meter work the same on phone and desktop.
What’s a normal BPM for music?
Most popular music sits between 70 and 180 BPM. Ballads and downtempo run 60-90, pop and house 100-130, techno and trance 125-140, drum and bass 165-180.
Honest reviews, free tools and guides for music producers. Built by people who actually make music, for people who actually make music.