Metronome
Professional metronome with tap tempo, time signatures (4/4, 3/4, 6/8), accent patterns, and visual beat indicator. Free online metronome for musicians
A metronome at 60 BPM ticks once per second; at 120 BPM, twice per second; at 240 BPM, four times per second. The interesting features are not the click rate but the support for accent patterns (loud-soft-soft-soft for 4/4 time), polyrhythms (3 against 2 for jazz training), tap tempo (figure out the BPM of a song by tapping along), and subdivision (a quarter-note pulse plus eighth-note clicks for tighter timing practice). This tool runs in your browser at sample-accurate timing — better than most free phone apps.
BPM ranges and typical music
- 40-60 BPM (Larghissimo / Grave / Largo) — funeral marches, slow ballads.
- 60-72 BPM (Lento / Adagio) — adagio movements in classical, slow blues, R&B ballads.
- 72-92 BPM (Andante / Moderato) — walking tempo. Hip-hop ballads, slow rock.
- 92-120 BPM (Moderato / Allegretto) — most pop songs. The "default" tempo for human dance.
- 120-160 BPM (Allegro) — fast pop, dance, rock. 128 BPM is roughly the average pop song peak; EDM clusters around 128-130.
- 160-200 BPM (Vivace / Presto) — punk, fast rock, drum and bass.
- 200-250+ BPM (Prestissimo) — speed metal, hardcore, gabber.
Most music in the world clusters between 90 and 130 BPM — corresponds to natural human walking and running pace. Music outside this range is harder to dance to without conscious effort.
Working example: practicing a fast passage
Input
A guitar passage you want to learn — final target 160 BPM
Output
Practice progression: Start: 80 BPM (slow enough to play every note correctly) Practice 5 minutes; if accurate, increase by 5 BPM. Continue: 85, 90, 95, 100, 105... At each tempo: 3-5 minutes minimum; only move up when you can play 3 times in a row error-free. This is "tempo ramping" practice. The metronome enforces consistency that's impossible to maintain by feel — humans naturally rush in easy passages and drag in hard ones. The metronome catches the drift. Advanced: practice at 80% target tempo (128 BPM) at 100% accuracy for 5 minutes, then 110% target (176 BPM) for 1 minute to push beyond. Drop back to target. This is "overpacing" — feels harder, makes target tempo feel easy.
For fast passages, accuracy at slow tempo is the foundation. Players who try to "jump to tempo" early build sloppy muscle memory that's hard to correct later. Patient ramping from slow tempo is the universal practice approach.
Time signatures and accent patterns
- 4/4 — most pop, rock, jazz. Accent pattern: LOUD-soft-soft-soft. Beats per bar: 4.
- 3/4 — waltz, country two-step. Pattern: LOUD-soft-soft. 3 beats per bar.
- 6/8 — Irish jigs, some pop ballads. Pattern: LOUD-soft-soft-loud-soft-soft. 6 beats per bar in compound meter.
- 5/4 — Mission: Impossible theme, Take Five, Dave Brubeck. Pattern: LOUD-soft-soft-LOUD-soft.
- 7/8 — Balkan music, some prog rock. Multiple grouping options: 3+2+2, 2+2+3, etc.
- Polyrhythms — two rhythms simultaneously. "3 against 2": one hand plays triplets while the other plays duplets in the same time. Pianists practice these for hours.
When to reach for this tool
- You are learning an instrument and need a click for practice.
- You are recording at home and need a reference click for a band session.
- You are exercising (running, cycling) and want a beat to keep pace with.
- You are dancing or teaching dance and need rhythm reference.
What this tool will not do
- It will not detect your tempo from playing live. Tap tempo detection by clicking on each beat works, but auto-detection from microphone input requires beat-tracking algorithms not built in here.
- It will not replace a quality desk metronome for professional studio work. Web Audio API can drift if the browser is heavily loaded; for sample-accurate sync with recording software, use a dedicated metronome plugin or hardware.
- It will not generate drum patterns. For drum loops, use a beatmaker / drum machine. Metronome is one click; beats have multiple sounds.
Frequently asked questions
What BPM is my favorite song?
Use tap tempo (tap a button on each beat for 8-16 beats; the average gives the BPM). Most music streaming and DJ tools also have BPM detection. Online databases (Tunebat, SongBPM) list BPMs for popular songs.
Why do I rush when I practice?
Universal. Most players play 5-15 BPM ahead of metronome on easy passages and 5-15 BPM behind on hard. The metronome reveals this gap; awareness is the first step to correcting. Eventually internal pulse matches the click without conscious effort.
Should I always practice with a metronome?
For technical material: yes — accuracy depends on consistent timing. For musical material: practice with click sometimes, without sometimes. Real performance requires both — playing in time AND musical phrasing that breathes around the beat.
What is "in the pocket"?
Playing slightly behind or slightly ahead of the beat for stylistic feel. Funk bass plays "behind the beat" (slightly late) for a relaxed groove. Latin music often plays "on top" (slightly early). Master timing first to "the click"; then learn to deliberately play off it.
Is 60 BPM = one click per second?
Yes, exactly. 60 beats per minute = 60 clicks per minute = 1 per second. 120 BPM = 2 per second. 180 BPM = 3 per second. The math is straightforward, but each player's "feel" of how fast each tempo seems varies hugely.
Can I program subdivisions (e.g., quarter notes + eighth note clicks)?
Modern metronomes support subdivision — main click on quarter note, softer click on eighth notes within. Useful for keeping internal subdivision steady during slow practice. Toggle as needed.
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Last updated · E-Utils editorial team