Song Structure Timer
List out your song’s sections and their bar counts, set the tempo and time signature, and see exactly how long each section — and the whole song — will run.
Timed structure
| Section | Bars | Length | Ends at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intro | 8 | 16s | 16s |
| Verse | 16 | 32s | 48s |
| Chorus | 8 | 16s | 64s |
| Verse | 16 | 32s | 96s |
| Chorus | 8 | 16s | 112s |
| Bridge | 8 | 16s | 128s |
| Chorus | 8 | 16s | 144s |
| Outro | 8 | 16s | 160s |
Why time a structure before you record
An arrangement that reads fine on paper — eight bars of intro, two verse-chorus pairs, an eight-bar bridge, a final chorus, and an outro — can run longer or shorter than you expect once tempo enters the picture. The same eight-bar section takes four seconds longer at 100 BPM than it does at 130 BPM.
Working out the running length before you track a single note means you can trim a section, add a repeat, or adjust the tempo while it’s still cheap to change — instead of discovering the song runs a minute long after it’s already recorded.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a section's length calculated?
A bar's length in seconds is beats-per-bar times 60, divided by the tempo in BPM. Multiplying that by a section's number of bars gives the section's length, and adding every section together gives the whole song's running time.
Why does time signature matter here?
A bar in 3/4 time has three beats instead of four, so it takes less time to play at the same tempo than a bar in 4/4 time. Setting the correct beats-per-bar keeps the length estimate accurate for waltzes, 6/8 ballads, and other non-4/4 songs.
What's a typical target length for a single?
Mainstream radio singles commonly land in the three-to-three-and-a-half-minute range, though there's no hard rule — plenty of hits run shorter or longer. This tool won't tell you what's right for your song, but it will tell you exactly where your current arrangement lands.
Does it assume a constant tempo throughout?
Yes — the calculation assumes one steady BPM across every section. If your song speeds up or slows down for a bridge or outro, time that section separately at its own tempo and add the results together by hand.
Planning tool only. Assumes a constant tempo — time any tempo changes separately.