Practice tools
Tap tempo
Tap along to a song to find its tempo in BPM (beats per minute). Tap the pad, or any key on your keyboard.
Tap in time with the music.
Tempo markings
Classical scores name the tempo in Italian. These are the usual ranges; the one you tapped is lit.
| Marking | Tempo | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Grave | under 40 BPM | very slow and solemn |
| Largo | 40–60 BPM | slow and broad |
| Larghetto | 60–66 BPM | rather slow |
| Adagio | 66–76 BPM | slow, at ease |
| Andante | 76–108 BPM | at a walking pace |
| Moderato | 108–120 BPM | moderately |
| Allegro | 120–156 BPM | fast and bright |
| Vivace | 156–176 BPM | lively and fast |
| Presto | 176–200 BPM | very fast |
| Prestissimo | 200+ BPM | as fast as possible |
Tips for an accurate BPM
- Tap the beat you'd clap to, not every drum hit.
- Tap at least eight times. The number is the average of your last twelve taps, so it gets steadier as you go.
- Pause to start again: after two seconds without a tap, the next tap starts a new count.
Found the tempo? Now play it. Ivory listens to you play and tells you what's off: a note that's missing, a hand that lands late, a note that rushes. Then it shows you how it should go.
Questions people ask
How do I find the BPM of a song?
Play the song and tap along to the beat: on the pad, the space bar or any key. After four or five taps the BPM settles; keep tapping for a more accurate number.
What is a normal BPM for a song?
Most pop songs sit between 90 and 130 BPM. Ballads are often 60 to 80, dance music 120 to 130, and drum and bass around 170.
Why does it show half time and double time?
Some people tap every beat, others every other beat. If the number feels too slow or too fast for the music, the half or double figure is probably the one you want.
Is BPM the same as tempo?
Tempo is the speed of the music; BPM (beats per minute) is how it's measured. Classical scores name the tempo in Italian instead: Allegro is about 120 to 156 BPM.