Metric Modulation Calculator
(Subdivision - BETA v1.0)
Equivalent Tempo: 120.00 BPM
Quarter Notes at 120 BPM is equivalent to Quater Notes at 120.00 BPM
New Tempo = Original Tempo x (Old Note Value/New Note Value)
*Calculated in 4/4 Time Signature*
What is Metric Modulation?
In simple terms
Metric modulation is a technique that changes the feel of a rhythm in music, creating the impression of a faster or slower tempo without actually changing the beat speed. Imagine you’re tapping eighth notes at 120 BPM. With metric modulation, instead of changing your tapping speed, you start counting a different type of subdivision, like triplets. This shift makes it feel like you’re tapping at a slower tempo, around 80 BPM, even though the beat remains steady. By changing the way you count, the rhythm sounds different, giving the illusion that the tempo has shifted.
How to Use the Calculator
Follow the instructions below
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Enter the Original Tempo. Type in the BPM (beats per minute) of the tempo you want to adjust.
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Choose the Original Note Value. Select the type of note you’re starting with, such as quarter notes. This is the note value you’re currently practicing or playing.
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Select the New Note Value. Now, pick the note value you want to “feel” or “hear” differently. For example, if you selected quarter notes originally, you might want to try eighth notes, triplets, or even something like “ninelets” for a unique shift.
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Get the New Tempo. The calculator will show you the equivalent BPM for the new note value! Now, you can practice at the new “modulated” tempo.
Example Metric Modulation
In this breakdown, Matt Regua essentially uses metric modulation to help drummers master a complex Dotted 32nd-note passage.
Here’s the approach he suggests:
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Simplify the Rhythm:
Remove the inner notes and focus on mastering the timing for the Dotted Eighth Notes.
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Metric Modulate & Build with Paradiddles:
Once you’re comfortable with the basic timing, practice paradiddles in isolation at a tempo where the Dotted Eighth Note equals Quarter Notes. In this case Dotted Eighth Notes at 150 BPM = Quarter Notes at 200 BPM.
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Re-integrate and Refine:
After mastering the 16th note paradiddles at 200 BPM, reintroduce the pattern at the target tempo (150 BPM), ensuring consistent timing and rhythmic accuracy.
In other words, when he suggests that a dotted eighth note at 150 BPM aligns with a 200 BPM feel, he's using metric modulation to reinterpret the Dotted 32nd-note rhythm as 16th notes at 200 BPM. Metric modulation here provides a practical way to break down complex rhythmic structures, offering a fresh rhythmic perspective that makes it easier to reapproach the original timing accurately. This enables him to shift between the two tempos smoothly, training his ears and hands to handle challenging timing passages.