Online metronome
A free metronome for practising any instrument. Set the tempo with the slider, the buttons or by tapping along, choose how many beats are in a bar, and press Start. The first beat of each bar is accented so you never lose your place.
How to practise with a metronome
- Pick a tempo slow enough to play the passage cleanly, with no mistakes.
- Play along with the click, aiming to land exactly on each beat.
- Once it feels easy three times in a row, raise the tempo by 4 to 8 BPM.
- If it falls apart, drop back to the last tempo that felt solid.
Tempo markings
Sheet music often gives the tempo as an Italian word rather than a number. The metronome shows the matching marking under the BPM.
| Marking | BPM | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Largo | 40 to 60 | Very slow and broad |
| Adagio | 66 to 76 | Slow and at ease |
| Andante | 76 to 108 | At a walking pace |
| Moderato | 108 to 120 | Moderate |
| Allegro | 120 to 168 | Fast and lively |
| Presto | 168 to 200 | Very fast |
| Prestissimo | over 200 | As fast as possible |
Tune up first
Before you practise, make sure you are in tune with the guitar tuner, bass tuner or ukulele tuner.
Metronome questions
Is this metronome free?
Yes. It is free, with no sign-up and nothing to download, and works on phones, tablets and computers.
How do I set the tempo by tapping?
Tap the Tap button, or press T, in time with the music. After a few taps the metronome sets itself to your tempo.
Why does the click sound late?
Bluetooth headphones and speakers add a delay. For practice, use the device speaker or wired headphones.
Does it keep time with the screen off?
Keep the page open. The screen stays awake while the metronome is playing, but phones may pause sound when the browser goes to the background.
What tempo should I practise at?
Start slow enough to play the passage perfectly, then raise the tempo by 4 to 8 BPM at a time. Speed comes from clean repetitions, not from rushing.