Free online metronome

A metronome gives you a steady reference pulse to play along with. Lock your timing to that pulse and you can hear exactly where you’re rushing or dragging, then correct it.

Here’s what a metronome does, how to use this one, and a few ways to practice with it so your timing actually improves.

How to use it

Set the tempo in beats per minute (BPM) with the slider, or tap Tap tempo to match a speed you already hear in your head. Choose how many beats are in a bar, then press Start. The first beat of each bar is accented, so you can hear the downbeat and keep your place even in odd time signatures.

Why practice with it

A click is an honest reference. When you drift ahead of it or fall behind, you hear the gap straight away, so you learn to feel a steady tempo instead of guessing at one. That steadiness is what makes fast passages sound clean and what keeps an ensemble together.

Practice tips

• Start slow enough to play every note accurately, then raise the tempo a few BPM at a time.
• Loop the bar that trips you up rather than the whole piece.
• To work on feel, put the click on beats 2 and 4, or slow it down so each click marks a half note and your own pulse fills the gaps.

Tempo guide

As a rough reference: Largo is about 40–60 BPM, Andante 76–108, Moderato 108–120, and Allegro 120–168.

FAQ

What does BPM mean? Beats per minute: how many clicks the metronome plays each minute. A higher number is a faster tempo.

What tempo should I practice at? Slow enough to play every note cleanly. Once it’s accurate and even, raise the tempo a few BPM and repeat.

Does it work on my phone? Yes. The metronome runs in your browser on desktop and mobile, with no app to install.