Song BPM Finder BPM Finder to get the Beats Per Minute of any Song, accurate song BPM detector and checker.

Want to find the BPM of a MP3 or any other audio file (see list of supported formats)? This BPM Finder is made for you! Drop your audio file(s) in the song analyzer below and instantly get the Tempo by magic. Detected beats are highlighted on the audio waveform.
Hit "download" if you want that we inject the tempo found into the BPM Mp3tag (MP3 files only).

Note: if you want to find the song key, use our Song Key Finder instead.
Want to play in tune with this song, use our free Android Guitar Tuner.

Click or drop your file(s) here
 

The perfect playlist needs the perfect tempo – the importance of BPM

What are the key ingredients to finding the right song for a particular occasion? Most people will immediately think about the melody, the words and the genre, but a fundamental aspect is to get the right tempo. The speed at which a song is recorded and performed has a profound impact on how it is perceived and whether it will work in the context that you have planned.

The clearest illustrations of how BPM can affect a piece of music can be found in songs with which we are all familiar, but that take on a whole new character at a different tempo. The Bing Crosby festive classic White Christmas must be one of the best known songs of its genre, and has been covered numerous times. While the likes of Michael Bublé might stick to the “easy listening” tempo that we know so well, 1970s punk band Stiff Little Fingers gave the song a whole new edginess when they started playing it in their silly encores section at live shows. And all by increasing the BPM.

Sometimes, a songwriter might start out with a particular idea for a song's tempo, only for it to evolve over time. The classic example here is Help! by The Beatles. When John Lennon first wrote the words, he envisaged a slow tempo to match the emotion of the song. It was not until George Martin started working on the piece in the recording studio that he hit upon the idea of increasing the tempo – and thereby created one of the most iconic sounds of the 1960s.

How to find the BPM

The above examples show just how much of an impact the tempo of a song will have on the way in which we interact with it. Whether you are a DJ looking to put together the perfect mix or a choreographer searching for something a little different for a new routine, knowing which songs have the right BPM is one of the first things you need to think about. The GetSongBPM song analyser calculates the beats per minute of any song. The simple drag and drop app could not be easier to use, and will measure the BPM from any audio file. It supports a wide range of file formats.

Finding the songs with the best tempo

If the examples mentioned earlier from some of the most famous songs in history show us anything, it is that we should be prepared to experiment and keep an open mind. Anyone who has watched TV shows such as Britain's Got Talent will know that some of the most memorable dance routines sometimes encompass the most unexpected songs – perhaps music from a genre that seems at odds with the type of dance, but that somehow “works.”

As any choreographer knows, there is no magic to the fact that the dancer can work with this seemingly inappropriate piece of music – it is all about the fact that it is at the right tempo. This is where GetSongBPM can really come into its own. Anyone looking from the outside might wonder how a particular piece of music can be made to work with a given style of dance. In reality, anything with the right BPM will be a natural fit – and the GetSongBPM will find a whole host of song choices that you would never have considered.

Can you foxtrot to Cyndi Lauper?

Suppose you are looking for a perfect song with the right BPM for a particular dance. All you need to do is plug your playlist into the GetSongBPM app and see what it comes up with. Alternatively, you can take a look in the GetSongBPM database to find some really left-field ideas for a new dance routine.

Let's take a look as a quick example. A Foxtrot is danced in 4/4 time at around 120 beats per minute. So with your playlist now analysed, you can add the BPM tags to every song. If you have a penchant for 1980s pop, you will notice that Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper has a tempo of exactly 120 BPM. It's certainly not a tune that would immediately spring to mind for dancing a foxtrot, but it's one of those little-known facts that has already been spotted by one celebrity couple in Dancing with the Stars, the US version of Strictly Come Dancing.

Keep everyone dancing

Of course, it is not just professional dancers or choreographers who need to know about BPM. Anyone who has ever tried to keep party goers or clubbers involved and active on the dance floor knows that one false move with the playlist can make everything fall flat, whether you are a professional DJ at a top nightclub or a keen amateur trying to keep everyone entertained at a kids' party.

Traditionally, DJs have grouped their music by genre or artist – and when they were working from physical records or CDs, they had very little choice. Today, with music stored electronically, there is far more freedom in ordering your playlist by whatever means you choose.

By maintaining consistent BPM from one song to the next, there is a smoother transition, and less likelihood of dancers deciding to leave the floor. And just as is the case with those unexpected foxtrot songs, you can come up with some truly spectacular segues that will leave the revellers wondering at your musical knowhow and imagination!

Experiment and dare to be different

The tempo of a piece is one of the most important, yet least discussed, aspects when it comes to putting together a playlist, for whatever purpose. In many cases, you might be constrained to a specific BPM. However, that does not have to limit your ability to do something unusual. The GetSongBPM song analyser gives you the information you need that will help you dare to be different.

From classical to music hall to pop to punk, those who truly understand the importance of tempo can find inspiration in the most unlikely places, leading to some of the most memorable experiences. For this reason, we also offer a filter by Music Genre.