How to find the BPM of a song
- Click the upload box above or drag a song onto it.
- Wait a few seconds while the tempo and key are measured on your device.
- Read the BPM, key and Camelot code. If the tempo feels doubled or halved, use the half-time or double-time value instead.
No file handy? Use tap tempo: tap the button (or press the space bar) on every beat for a few bars, and the BPM settles as you keep tapping.
What BPM means
BPM stands for beats per minute, the speed of a song's pulse. Producers use it to sync loops and samples, DJs match it to blend tracks, and video editors cut on it so scene changes land with the music. Knowing the BPM is also the first step to a beat-synced music video, where every cut follows the rhythm.
Typical BPM by genre
| Genre | Typical BPM |
|---|---|
| Hip-hop / rap | 80-115 |
| Trap | 130-170 (felt at half time) |
| Pop | 100-130 |
| R&B | 60-90 |
| House | 118-128 |
| Techno | 125-140 |
| Drum and bass | 160-180 |
| Dubstep | 138-142 |
| Reggaeton | 88-100 |
| Rock | 110-140 |
| Lo-fi | 70-90 |
These are common ranges, not rules; plenty of great songs sit outside them.
Finding the key and mixing in key
The key tells you which notes a song is built around, for example A minor or E-flat major. Singers use it to pick a comfortable range, producers to layer samples that do not clash, and DJs to mix tracks harmonically. Every key also has a relative key (A minor and C major share the same notes), which we show next to the result.
The Camelot code turns this into numbers: move one step around the wheel (8A to 7A or 9A) or switch letters (8A to 8B) and the next track will usually sound in tune with the last.