Tools
Online metronome
Practice in time right in your browser: pick the BPM, the time signature and the subdivision. Clicks are scheduled on the audio clock, so they never drag or rush.
100
BPM · Andante
Space starts and stops · ↑ ↓ change the BPM (Shift: by 10) · T taps the tempo
Quick tempos
Time signature
Subdivision
Tap a beat of the bar to switch between accent, normal and muted.
How to practice with a metronome
- 1Start slow, at a BPM where you can play the passage without mistakes — even if it feels too slow.
- 2Pick the song's time signature: 4/4 is the most common, a waltz is 3/4, and many ballads use 6/8.
- 3Use the subdivision to feel the middle of the beat: eighths help with strumming, triplets with shuffle and blues.
- 4Once you play it clean three times in a row, go up 4 to 8 BPM and repeat.
- 5Don't know a song's BPM? Tap along with it about four times.
Tempo markings and BPM
Sheet music gives the tempo in Italian terms. These are the BPM ranges most often used for each.
| Marking | BPM | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Gravevery slow and solemn | 30–39 | very slow and solemn |
| Largoslow and broad | 40–59 | slow and broad |
| Larghettoa little less slow than largo | 60–65 | a little less slow than largo |
| Adagioslow and at ease | 66–75 | slow and at ease |
| Andanteat a walking pace | 76–107 | at a walking pace |
| Moderatomoderate | 108–119 | moderate |
| Allegrofast and bright | 120–155 | fast and bright |
| Vivacefast and lively | 156–175 | fast and lively |
| Prestovery fast | 176–199 | very fast |
| Prestissimoas fast as possible | 200–250 | as fast as possible |
Frequently asked questions
Is the online metronome accurate?
Yes. The clicks are scheduled on the browser's audio clock, not on JavaScript timers, so the tempo doesn't slip even when the page is busy.
What is BPM?
Beats per minute. 60 BPM is one click per second; 120 BPM, two per second.
How do I find a song's BPM?
Tap the Tap button along with the song, about four times. The metronome works out the tempo from the average gap between taps.
What is a subdivision?
Softer clicks inside each beat: 2 for eighth notes, 3 for triplets, 4 for sixteenths. They help you keep time in fast passages.
Does it keep going in another tab?
It does: the sound stays in time even with the tab in the background. To stop it, come back and press stop, or close the page.