What is a metronome?
A metronome is a device that produces a steady pulse — a click or beep — at a specific tempo. Musicians use it to develop consistent timing, practice difficult passages at controlled speeds, and internalize rhythmic feel. This online version uses your browser's Web Audio API for sample-accurate timing, so every click lands exactly where it should.
How BPM works
**BPM (Beats Per Minute)** is the standard measure of musical tempo. Common ranges include:
- **Largo (40-60 BPM):** Very slow, stately - **Adagio (66-76 BPM):** Slow, expressive - **Andante (76-108 BPM):** Walking pace - **Moderato (108-120 BPM):** Moderate speed - **Allegro (120-156 BPM):** Fast, lively - **Presto (168-200 BPM):** Very fast
The interval between beats is calculated as **60,000 ms / BPM**. At 120 BPM, each beat is exactly 500 milliseconds apart.
Understanding time signatures
A time signature tells you how beats are grouped into measures:
- **4/4** — Four quarter-note beats per measure (most common in pop, rock, jazz) - **3/4** — Three beats per measure (waltz feel) - **2/4** — Two beats per measure (march feel) - **6/8** — Six eighth-note beats grouped in two (compound duple) - **5/4** — Five beats per measure (used in progressive and world music) - **7/8** — Seven eighth-note beats (asymmetric, common in Balkan and prog rock)
The first beat of each measure (the **downbeat**) gets a higher-pitched click so you can hear where the measure starts.
How to practice with a metronome
1. **Start slow.** Set the BPM well below your target tempo 2. **Play along.** Focus on locking your notes to the click 3. **Increase gradually.** Raise the BPM by 5-10 when you can play cleanly 4. **Use tap tempo.** Tap along to a song to find its BPM, then practice at that speed 5. **Accent the downbeat.** Listen for the higher click on beat 1 to stay oriented in the measure
Tap tempo
The **Tap Tempo** feature lets you tap a button in rhythm and the metronome will calculate the average BPM from your taps. This is useful for matching the tempo of a recording or finding a comfortable practice speed by feel rather than by number.
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