How to find the BPM and key of a song
- Upload the song (MP3, M4A, WAV, FLAC or a video). The whole file is analyzed, which gives the most accurate answer.
- Or let it listen while the song plays out loud. Fifteen seconds of the chorus works best.
- Or tap along to the beat. After four taps you see the BPM, and it gets more precise the longer you tap.
Press Check with a click track to hear the song with a metronome on top. If the clicks land on the beat, the BPM is right.
What BPM means
BPM, or beats per minute, is the speed of a song's pulse: the rate you'd tap your foot. Most pop songs sit between 90 and 130 BPM.
| Style | Typical BPM |
|---|---|
| Hip-hop | 80 – 100 |
| Pop | 95 – 130 |
| House | 118 – 130 |
| Techno | 125 – 145 |
| Dubstep, trap | 140 – 150 (often felt at half speed) |
| Drum and bass | 160 – 180 |
Musical key and the Camelot wheel
A song's key is the note it feels "at home" on, and whether it's major (brighter) or minor (darker). Knowing it helps you sing along in a comfortable range, play along on an instrument, or mix two songs without a clash.
DJs use the Camelot wheel, which numbers every key from 1 to 12 with A for minor and B for major. Two songs mix smoothly when they share a number (8A and 8B), or sit one step apart with the same letter (8A with 7A or 9A). The finder shows the matching codes under every result.
Can't remember the song's name?
Hum, sing or play it, and SoundCatch tells you what song it is. Your first song is free.
Find my song →FAQ
How does the BPM finder work?
It finds the moments where new sounds start, like drum hits and chords, then looks for the steady pulse that lines up with the most of them across the whole song. That pulse is the tempo in beats per minute.
How does it find the key of a song?
It measures how much of each of the 12 notes is in the song, then compares that pattern with the typical note pattern of all 24 major and minor keys. The closest match is the key.
Why does it say half or double the BPM I expected?
A song at 140 BPM can feel like 70, and drum and bass at 174 is often counted as 87. Both are the same pulse. Use the half and double buttons to switch, or tap along to check.
What is the Camelot code?
The Camelot wheel gives each key a number from 1 to 12 and a letter, A for minor and B for major. DJs use it to mix smoothly: keys with the same number, or one number apart with the same letter, sound good together.
Is my song uploaded?
No. The song is analyzed inside your browser. Nothing is uploaded or saved.
How accurate is it?
For songs with a steady beat, the BPM is usually exact. Keys are harder: songs that change key, or sit between a major key and its relative minor (C major and A minor share the same notes), can come out as the neighbour. The finder tells you when it's unsure and shows the runner-up.
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