100 BPM in numbers
100 BPM is a mechanical metronome mark and the lower limit of the CPR range: chest compressions should be given at 100 to 120 per minute. At 100 beats per minute, one beat lasts 600 ms (0.6 s).
| Note or bar | Length at 100 BPM |
|---|---|
| One beat (quarter note) | 600 ms |
| Eighth note | 300 ms |
| Eighth-note triplet | 200 ms |
| Sixteenth note | 150 ms |
| Bar of 3/4 | 1.8 s |
| Bar of 4/4 | 2.4 s |
| Bars of 4/4 per minute | 25 |
Tempo marking: Andante
100 BPM falls in the Andante range, “at a walking pace”, which this metronome places at 76 to 107 BPM. Reference charts do not all agree, so treat tempo words as a feel rather than a fixed number. 100 is one of the numbers printed on a mechanical (Maelzel) metronome.
What 100 BPM is used for
Walking researchers like 100 too. In the CADENCE-Adults study (Tudor-Locke and colleagues, 2019), about 100 steps per minute marked the start of moderate-intensity walking for adults aged 21 to 40. In dance, competition samba runs at 50 to 52 bars of 2/4 per minute (100 to 104 beats) and rumba at 25 to 27 bars of 4/4 (100 to 108 beats).
Walking, running and CPR at 100
CPR: 100 is inside the range for chest compressions. The American Heart Association asks for 100 to 120 compressions per minute for adults, at a depth of at least 2 inches (5 cm). In a real emergency, call 911 first and follow the dispatcher.
Walking: 100 steps per minute is a moderate to brisk walk. Research on adults aged 21 to 40 puts moderate intensity at about 100 steps per minute and vigorous intensity at about 130.
Practice ideas at 100 BPM
Play a scale or a short phrase with one note per click, then two (eighths), then four (sixteenths). If it gets messy, go back down 4 BPM and build up again. Press the space bar to start or stop, and use the − and + buttons to move one BPM at a time. Other tempos: 90 BPM, 110 BPM, or the full online metronome. To time a practice session, pair it with a timer.