How this tempo feels
The pace of a light jog. Your body falls into the rhythm naturally.
Where it's used
Pop, house, disco, marches — a huge number of songs sit right around 120 BPM.
Beat math
At 120 BPM the beat falls 120 times a minute. Here's the math.
Beats per minute
120 beats
One beat lasts
0.5s(500ms)
Beats per second
2 beats
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Practice tips
Since it's the reference for so many songs, getting comfortable here pays off across genres. Once quarter notes feel steady, move on to eighth- and sixteenth-note subdivisions.
Frequently asked questions
How many beats per second is 120 BPM?
Two. 120 BPM is 120 beats a minute, so the beat falls twice every second.
Why is 120 BPM so common?
It's an easy speed for the body to move to, so it acts as a default in pop, dance, and marches. It's also the starting tempo in many music apps.