Metronome · 30-240 BPM · Tap tempo
Online metronome, accurate and free
Set the tempo, pick the time signature and practice with a steady beat. With accent, subdivisions and tap tempo. No sign-up, nothing to install.
Not sure of the tempo? Press Tap tempo to the beat of the music, several times in a row, and it is worked out for you.
Press Start or the space bar. In 6/8, 9/8 and 12/8 the beat is the dotted quarter note, and you can subdivide it into eighth notes or leave it as is. The up and down arrow keys change the tempo by one beat per minute.
This is the basic metronome. In MIDI & MusicXML Player the score plays and is followed on screen at the same time, with tempo, key and instrument changes, and there are more than 5,000 scores and exercises to practice with.
See the PlayerIn three steps
Set the tempo
With the buttons, the slider or tap tempo: tap to the beat of the music and it is worked out for you.
Pick the time signature
From 2/4 to 12/8, with the subdivision you need (or none) and the accent on the first beat.
Press Start
The first beat sounds higher. The dots on the screen follow the bar.
What a metronome is for
A metronome sounds a steady beat that gives you a reference for playing, singing or dancing at a constant speed. Practicing with one helps you notice whether you rush the easy passages or drag on the hard ones.
How to practice with a metronome
- Start slow: pick a tempo at which you can play the passage without mistakes.
- Speed up gradually: raise it a few beats per minute at a time, only once the passage comes out clean.
- Use the subdivision: with eighth notes or triplets the in-between beats sound too, which makes it easier to hold the rhythm on long notes.
- Slow down if you miss: it is better to repeat slowly than to push on at speed.
Tempo markings and their beats per minute
The Italian markings in sheet music have no exact figure; these are the most common approximate ranges.
| Marking | Beats per minute |
|---|---|
| Largo | 40-60 |
| Larghetto | 60-66 |
| Adagio | 66-76 |
| Andante | 76-108 |
| Moderato | 108-120 |
| Allegro | 120-156 |
| Vivace | 156-176 |
| Presto | 176-200 |
Common questions
Is it free?
Yes. The metronome is free and does not ask for sign-up or an email address.
Is it accurate?
The beat is scheduled with the browser’s audio clock, not a page timer, so it does not drift even when the page is busy. Final accuracy depends on your device and its audio output.
What is tap tempo?
A way to work out the tempo by tapping the button to the beat of some music: from several taps in a row you get the average in beats per minute. If more than two seconds pass between taps, it starts over.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. On an iPhone, if you hear nothing, check that the side silent switch is not on and that the device volume is up. While it plays, the page tries to keep the screen on if the browser allows it.
Which subdivision should I choose?
With no subdivision only the beat sounds. With eighth notes (×2), triplets (×3) or sixteenth notes (×4), the in-between beats sound too, more softly, so you can feel fast notes better. In 6/8, 9/8 and 12/8 the beat is the dotted quarter note, and you can leave it undivided or subdivide it into eighth notes (×3) or sixteenth notes (×6).
Which time signatures does it have?
2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, 6/8, 9/8 and 12/8. The first beat of each bar sounds higher, unless you turn the accent off.
What tempo range does it have?
From 30 to 240 beats per minute, in steps of one.
How is it different from MIDI & MusicXML Player?
The metronome only marks the beat. The Player plays the score and follows it while it sounds, with tempo, key and instrument changes.
Practice with the score in front of you
In MIDI & MusicXML Player you can follow the score while it plays and slow the tempo down to learn a passage bit by bit. And if you are starting on the recorder, Mi Flauta Dulce will guide you through six stages and listen through the microphone; it is coming soon to Google Play and the App Store, with no date yet, and its web version is currently in Spanish only.