Home >> Hobbies >> Other Hobbies

How to Calculate Percussion

Calculating percussion is synonymous with determining the beats per minute -- or tempo -- of a musical composition. Percussion instruments, such as drums, are typically used to set the pace of music. Occasionally, instead of being used for rhythm, the instruments may be part of the melody or harmony. A mathematical formula allows musicians and others, such as disc jockeys, to determine whether to slow down or speed up the tempo of the music being played.

Things You'll Need

Stopwatch

Instructions

- 1
  Start the stopwatch once the song begins. Pay attention to the music and isolate the drumbeat.
- 2
  Count the number of drumbeats per every 15 seconds. Tapping your foot or clapping your hands while you count the drumbeats is helpful because irregular drumbeats, or advanced drumming techniques, can lead you to think that there are more drumbeats than you are hearing. Ignore the variations, which do not affect the tempo, and focus on the main beat.
- 3
  Stop the stopwatch at the 15-second mark. Multiply the number of beats per 15 seconds times four to get the number of beats per minute (four 15-second sessions equal 60 seconds). For example, if during the 15-second session you counted 30 beats, the song's tempo would be 120 beats per minute.
- 4
  Measure the drumbeat two or three additional times. Once you have an initial determination for the number of beats per minute, repeat the process a few more times to make sure you consistently count the same number of drumbeats and arrive at the same result using the same formula. Once you have confirmed the beats per minute you can confidently make any adjustments you want to the music.

Other Hobbies