Musical duration calculator
Convert a tempo into note durations
Calculate note, triplet, and bar durations from a tempo in BPM.
Musical duration calculator
Tempo
Quarter note = 1 beat
Bars
1 bar in 4/4
Duration—ms
Simple notes
Dotted notes
Triplets
Quick explanation
Enter a tempo in BPM to get matching durations in milliseconds and seconds. The tool shows simple notes, dotted notes, triplets, and a few 4/4 bar durations.
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Need to keep the tempo?
Use the metronome to follow a steady tempo directly in the browser.
Additional information
How to use the musical duration calculator
Enter a tempo in BPM, then read the calculated durations for simple notes, dotted notes, triplets, and 4/4 bars.
Values are shown in milliseconds and seconds so they can be used quickly in audio software, delay effects, or sequencers.
What is this calculation used for?
A tempo indicates the number of beats per minute. From that tempo, it is possible to calculate the duration of a quarter note, eighth note, half note, or other rhythmic divisions.
This is useful for setting a tempo-synced delay, preparing a loop, understanding a musical duration, or comparing rhythmic divisions.
Simple notes, dotted notes, and triplets
Simple notes follow common divisions: whole note, half note, quarter note, eighth note, and sixteenth note.
Dotted notes add half of the base note duration. Triplets divide a duration in a ternary way, which often gives useful values for delays and more flexible rhythms.
4/4 bars
The tool also shows a few 4/4 bar durations. One 4/4 bar corresponds to four quarter notes.
These values can help estimate the duration of a one, two, four, or eight-bar loop.
Tool limits
The calculation is based on a quarter note equal to one beat. This is the most common case for converting a tempo into simple musical durations.
The tool does not replace a full sequencer, but it quickly gives the values needed when working with tempo.
Data and privacy
The calculation is performed directly in the browser. The tempo you enter is not sent to the server to use the tool.
Limits and reuse
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