50 BPM in numbers
At 50 BPM each beat lasts 1.2 seconds. It sits in the Largo range, the broad and slow tempo of many hymns and slow movements. At 50 beats per minute, one beat lasts 1,200 ms (1.2 s).
| Note or bar | Length at 50 BPM |
|---|---|
| One beat (quarter note) | 1,200 ms |
| Eighth note | 600 ms |
| Eighth-note triplet | 400 ms |
| Sixteenth note | 300 ms |
| Bar of 3/4 | 3.6 s |
| Bar of 4/4 | 4.8 s |
| Bars of 4/4 per minute | 12.5 |
Tempo marking: Largo
50 BPM falls in the Largo range, “broad and slow”, which this metronome places at 40 to 65 BPM. Reference charts do not all agree, so treat tempo words as a feel rather than a fixed number. 50 is one of the numbers printed on a mechanical (Maelzel) metronome.
What 50 BPM is used for
50 is also half of 100. Drummers often practice a 100 BPM groove with the click at 50, so it only marks beats 1 and 3 and they have to hold the time on their own in between. It is a demanding but very effective exercise.
Walking, running and CPR at 50
CPR: chest compressions need 100 to 120 per minute (American Heart Association), so 50 BPM is too slow for that. Use the 110 BPM metronome to practice.
Walking: below about 100 steps per minute, walking is usually light intensity for adults, according to the CADENCE-Adults study.
Practice ideas at 50 BPM
At slow tempos the gaps feel long and most people rush. Turn on Subdivide for a soft click between beats, and count the subdivisions out loud. Press the space bar to start or stop, and use the − and + buttons to move one BPM at a time. Other tempos: 40 BPM, 60 BPM, or the full online metronome. To time a practice session, pair it with a timer.