Choose a tempo that lets you play the hardest bar without rushing.
Pulse · tempo · time
Free Online Metronome with Tap Tempo
Set any tempo from 30 to 300 beats per minute and this online metronome clicks it back with an accented first beat. Type the BPM, drag the tempo slider, nudge it one beat at a time or tap the pulse of a song to have it worked out for you. Choose 2/4, 3/4, 4/4 or 6/8, watch the numbered beat lights follow the bar, and start or stop with the spacebar so your hands stay on your instrument.
Beats per minute
BPM
1234
Ready at 100 BPM in 4/4.
Start here
How to use online metronome
- Enter a BPM, move the tempo control or use the minus and plus buttons.
- Choose 2/4, 3/4, 4/4 or 6/8 to set the number of beats in each bar.
- Press Start or the spacebar. The brighter first click marks the start of the bar.
- Use Tap tempo several times if you are matching a song or an internal pulse.
- Practise a short passage accurately, then increase the BPM in small steps.
Practise better
Beginner tips that make a difference
Count subdivisions aloud: ‘one and two and’ for eighth notes.
If the click feels distracting, lower its volume instead of turning it off.
Increase by two to five BPM after several clean repetitions.
Good questions
Frequently asked questions
How does a metronome work?
A metronome divides a minute into equal parts and marks each one. At 120 BPM the gap between clicks is 60 ÷ 120, or half a second. A mechanical metronome does this with a weighted pendulum, while this online metronome schedules each click ahead of time through the browser audio clock so the spacing stays even.
What BPM should a beginner use?
There is no universal starting tempo. Use the slowest value that allows correct rhythm and relaxed movement; 50 to 70 BPM often works for basic exercises.
How do I set a metronome to a song?
Press Tap tempo in time with the song for eight beats or more. The tool averages your taps, writes the result into the BPM field and rounds it to a whole number, which you can then nudge with the minus and plus buttons.
What is the accent click?
The stronger, higher click marks beat one. It helps you hear where each measure begins.
Is 120 BPM fast?
It is moderate. 120 BPM is two beats a second and sits in the allegro range used by a great deal of pop, rock and dance music. Marches are often near 120, ballads sit closer to 60 to 80, and technical study tempos frequently start below 60.
Will it run in a background tab?
It is designed for an active practice tab. Browsers may throttle timers or suspend audio when a page is backgrounded or a phone locks.
What does 6/8 mean here?
The display uses six eighth-note beats per bar with the first beat accented. Many players also feel 6/8 as two larger groups of three.