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Online Metronome

A precise, adjustable click track for musicians. Set your BPM and time signature to practice rhythm and timing without extra hardware.

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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