Tap tempo

Tap for BPM: tap on every beat of the song and this tempo tapper shows the BPM and how long one 8-count lasts.

How to tap for tempo

1. Play the song from a part with a steady beat. Skip slow intros.
2. Tap on every beat, the pulse you would clap or step to.
3. Keep going for 8 to 16 taps. The BPM uses your last 12 taps, so one late tap does not throw it off.
4. Stop for 2 seconds to start again from zero.

Half time or double time?

If you tapped every other beat, the real tempo is double the number. If your tapping felt rushed, it is half. Most songs people dance to sit between about 80 and 150 BPM. A dancer counts the steps, so pick the tempo where "1, 2, 3, 4" matches the moves. Read more in how to find the BPM of a song.

Why the 8-count length matters

Dancers count in 8s. At 120 BPM one 8-count lasts 4 seconds, so a 2:30 routine is about 37 eight-counts. Knowing the length tells you how much choreography a section needs, and where a stunt or a formation change can land. The 8-count calculator does the whole song for you.

8-count length at common tempos

Common ranges, not rules. Always check the song you dance to.

How accurate is tapping?

The more steady taps you give it, the closer it gets; after a dozen or so it is usually close enough to plan counts. Two things throw it off: speeding up as you get into the song, and tapping on the singer instead of the drums. If the number keeps moving, stop for 2 seconds and start again on a part with a clear beat. For an exact number from the file itself, use the BPM finder, or upload the song for a full count sheet: it finds every beat, not an average.

More tempo tools

• BPM finder: choose the audio file and get the BPM without tapping.
• Time signature finder: is the song in 4/4 or 3/4?
• Practice player: play the song slower to learn the steps.