How do you work out the BPM?

ginger_pat

ginger_pat

ginger_pat

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23 Jun 2007
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Ok so i have my music tech theory exam and on every single paper it asks you to work out the Beats Per Minute

to be honest i don't have a clue how to do this any tips or easy ways to work this out?

Thanks Pat
 
Tap foot to the music, start timer, count.


Seriously, what information are you given regarding the theory question? Do you have to listen to a sample, are you given sheet with timing score?
 
Raist said:
Tap foot to the music, start timer, count.


Seriously, what information are you given regarding the theory question? Do you have to listen to a sample, are you given sheet with timing score?
Click to expand...

Yeah we listen to a sample of a song about 2 minutes worth and it asks us question then it usually says what is the BPM of this song then gives us 4 options to choose out of.
 
If it's like my music tech exam then you count the beats in say ten seconds and x by 6 to get the number of beats in a minute. (Counting over a whole minute is obviously more accurate but you might lose count). But if I remember correctly, it's multiple choice so you circle the one most likely ie 30, 60, 120, 180 sort of thing

EDIT:
ginger_pat said:
it usually says what is the BPM of this song then gives us 4 options to choose out of.
Click to expand...
- thought so :)
 
In that case just pick out the 1st up beat of a bar & count for 30 seconds & then double it, The number you have will be the BPM.
 
ginger_pat said:
Yeah we listen to a sample of a song about 2 minutes worth and it asks us question then it usually says what is the BPM of this song then gives us 4 options to choose out of.
Click to expand...
Then the advise should hold.

From the wiki:

Hip hop typically uses a BPM tempo of 80-100, while house music is faster around 120-128 bpm (from regular house music to UK Garage), and Jungle music generally ranges between 140-150 bpm (with some differences in older compositions). Psytrance is almost exclusively produced at 145 BPM, whereas Speedcore and Gabber music both frequently exceed 160 BPM
 
Just try and work it out - I usually count how many beats in 15 seconds and multiply that by 4 (find multiplying by 4 rather than 6 a lot easier!)
Also, you can do process of elimination - last year in the music tech exam I had a range of 90bpm to 140bpm for the choices. It was quite slow so no way was it going to be 140.

Also, do your teachers not teach you this?!
 
OK i think i have it now thanks guys

and Maccy my teacher expects us to know this like she expects us to know how to read music at grade 5 and she doesn't understand why we don't understand the question which sucks when you need help
 
ginger_pat said:
OK i think i have it now thanks guys

and Maccy my teacher expects us to know this like she expects us to know how to read music at grade 5 and she doesn't understand why we don't understand the question which sucks when you need help
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Ahh, one of those types of teachers. Accidentally break a guitar string in her eye. That'll get her attention.
 
Haha i could imagine the look on her face.

she freaks out if you don't know the answer and put a joke one
like the question was Explain one good thing about the lead vocals on a beyonce song

i put She whinesssss wayyy too much
 
This seems like a pretty fundamental thing you should know?

I've got my applied maths exam tomorrow...what comes after 2 again?
 
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