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Note duration.

Turn BPM into milliseconds for regular, dotted and triplet notes. Check a full measure with your own time signature.

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BEATKIND / 03

Note duration

Turn BPM into milliseconds for regular, dotted and triplet notes. Check a full measure with your own time signature.

Runs on your device

FROM TEMPO TO TIMETempoBPM

BPM reference: quarter note ♩

Note style

Beats in the time signatureTime signature denominator

One full bar · 4/42.000 sec

NoteDuration

Whole note1/1 · Regular2,000ms

Half note1/2 · Regular1,000ms

Quarter note1/4 · Regular500ms

Eighth note1/8 · Regular250ms

Sixteenth note1/16 · Regular125ms

Thirty-second note1/32 · Regular62.5ms

A few notes before you play

How to use it

01
Enter the tempo; the quarter note is always the BPM reference in this calculator.
02
Choose regular, dotted or triplet notes to compare durations from whole to thirty-second notes.
03
Set the time signature separately to calculate the duration of a complete bar.

TRY THIS

Put the numbers into practice.

At quarter note = 120 BPM, a quarter note lasts 500 ms, a dotted eighth lasts 375 ms, and an eighth-note triplet lasts about 166.67 ms. A bar of 6/8 lasts 1,500 ms.

Behind the numbers

Note duration = (60,000 ÷ BPM) × (4 ÷ note denominator) × modifier. The modifier is 1 for regular notes, 1.5 for dotted notes, and 2/3 for triplets. Bar duration = (60,000 ÷ BPM) × numerator × (4 ÷ denominator).

If your score marks dotted quarter = 80, first convert to quarter note = 120 for this calculator. The displayed values are mathematical durations; expressive timing and swing are not included.

A LITTLE CLARITY

Questions, answered.

What does BPM refer to here?

BPM is quarter-note beats per minute. This fixed reference keeps the note table and bar calculation consistent, including time signatures such as 6/8.

Why are triplets shorter?

A triplet fits three notes into the time normally occupied by two notes of the same value. Each triplet note is therefore 2/3 of its regular duration.

Can I use these values for delay effects?

Yes. The table gives mathematical delay times for straight, dotted and triplet subdivisions. Some plugins use their own beat reference, so check their settings.