Free tool · Dance
Beat counter for bachata and salsa
Play a song, tap along to the beat, and the counter finds the tempo and keeps counting 1 to 8 with a click. Choose bachata or salsa On1/On2 to see where the taps and breaks fall.
Step on 1-2-3, tap (or hip accent) on 4. Step on 5-6-7, tap on 8.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4tap
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8tap
Tap along with the music (or press T). After 4 taps the counter keeps going on its own. Press “This is 1” (or 1) on the first beat of a phrase to set the 1.
BPM
Typical Bachata music: about 110–150 BPM.
Counter stopped
No sound on iPhone? Turn off silent mode. Play your music from another app or device.
How to use the beat counter
- Pick a style: bachata, salsa On1 or salsa On2. The highlighted boxes show where the taps (bachata) or break steps (salsa) fall.
- Play your song from another app or device and tap the beat (button, or the T key). After four taps the counter keeps going on its own at the tempo you tapped.
- Press “This is 1” on the first beat of a musical phrase. Keep tapping now and then to stay in sync if the song drifts.
- Dance along. Practise your basic so your steps land on the counts and your taps or breaks land on the highlighted boxes. Lower the tempo with −5 to drill slowly.
How to count bachata
Bachata music is in 4/4 time, and dancers count it in eights: 1, 2, 3, tap, 5, 6, 7, tap. You step on three beats and tap (or hold with a hip accent) on the fourth. Each count is one beat, so the basic step takes two bars of music.
The basic step (side to side)
Step left on 1, bring the right foot to it on 2, step left again on 3 and tap the right foot on 4. Then reverse: right on 5, left together on 6, right on 7, tap left on 8. Modern and sensual bachata usually use this side basic with the tap on 4 and 8.
The Dominican basic
Dominican bachata keeps the same 8-count, but the basic is often danced in place or forward and back instead of side to side, with small, quick steps and a bouncy feel. Dancers play with the count by adding footwork variations (syncopations) between beats, usually to faster, guitar-led music. When you practise it, set the counter a little faster, for example 135–150 BPM, and keep the tap or accent on 4 and 8 as your anchor.
How to count salsa
Salsa is also counted in eights, but you step on six beats and pause on two: 1, 2, 3, (4), 5, 6, 7, (8). Because the third step is held through the pause, it is often called “quick, quick, slow”. Salsa music is faster than bachata, so start practising with slower songs.
Salsa On1 vs On2
The difference is where the break step falls: the step where you change direction, forward or back.
| On1 | On2 (New York, ET2) | |
|---|---|---|
| Steps on | 1 2 3 · 5 6 7 | 1 2 3 · 5 6 7 |
| Break step on | 1 and 5 | 2 and 6 |
| Pause on | 4 and 8 | 4 and 8 |
| Often called | LA style, “on the one” | New York style, mambo |
| Feel | Breaks on the strong downbeat; punchy and easy to hear | Breaks just after the downbeat; often described as smoother and more laid-back |
There are other ways to dance On2. “Power On2” or Palladium timing steps on 2-3-4 and 6-7-8, for example. All On2 variants share the break on 2 and 6. Most beginner classes worldwide start with On1, while On2 is strong in New York and on the congress scene. Neither is more “correct”: learn the one your local socials dance.
Want to see your own footwork timing? Our pods record every step and tap. See how ReadMyMove works for dancers.
Frequently asked questions
How do you count bachata?
Bachata is counted in eights: 1-2-3-tap, 5-6-7-tap. You step on 1, 2 and 3, then tap (or add a hip accent) on 4. The same pattern repeats on 5, 6, 7 and a tap on 8. Each count is one beat of the music.
What is the difference between salsa On1 and On2?
Both are counted 1-2-3, 5-6-7 with pauses on 4 and 8. The difference is where the break step (the step where you change direction) falls. In On1, often called LA style, the break is on 1 and 5. In On2, often called New York or mambo style, the break is on 2 and 6.
How do I find the 1 in a song?
Listen for where musical phrases start: a singer coming in, a new instrument, or a big accent after a build-up usually lands on 1. Tap the beat to set the tempo, then press 'This is 1' on that accent. If the music keeps changing on the counter's 1 every 8 counts, you've found it.
What BPM is bachata music?
Most bachata for dancing sits roughly between 110 and 150 BPM. Modern and sensual bachata tracks are often at the slower end, while traditional Dominican bachata is often faster.
What BPM is salsa music?
Salsa for dancing is usually around 150 to 220 BPM, and most social dancing happens somewhere between about 160 and 200. Beginners usually find tracks below 180 easier.
Can the counter detect the beat from my microphone?
Not yet. Today you tap the beat yourself, which works with any music source and keeps your audio private. Automatic beat detection is something we are looking at for a future version.
Why can't I hear the clicks on my phone?
On iPhone, Web Audio is muted when the silent switch is on, so turn silent mode off. Also make sure 'Click sound' is ticked. The counter starts sound only after you tap a button, which is a browser rule.
Related
Sources
- Salsa Vida: New York style salsa (salsa On2)
- Salsa Vida: break step
- The Dance Dojo: salsa timing, the difference between On1 and On2
- Salsa Vida: salsa vs bachata
- UNESCO: bachata of the Dominican Republic
Educational information for sport and practice, not medical advice. If something hurts, see a qualified professional.
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