How this online metronome works
A metronome plays a steady, repeating click at a tempo you choose so you can practise in time. Tempo is measured in beats per minute (BPM): at 60 BPM there is one click every second, and at 120 BPM there are two clicks every second. Pick a BPM with the slider or number box, choose how many beats are in each measure, then press start.
The first beat of every measure is accented with a higher-pitched click so you can hear where each bar begins — useful for feeling the difference between, say, a waltz in 3 and a march in 4. A visual indicator flashes and counts the current beat in time with the sound. To match a tempo by ear, use tap tempo: tap the button in time and the metronome averages the gaps between your taps to set the BPM.
Reference note: the click is generated with the Web Audio API using look-ahead scheduling, so timing stays accurate even if the browser is busy. Audio starts only after you press start, which is required for sound to play in modern browsers.
| Tempo name | BPM range | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Largo | 30–59 | Very slow and broad |
| Adagio | 60–75 | Slow and stately |
| Andante | 76–107 | Walking pace |
| Moderato | 108–119 | Moderate |
| Allegro | 120–167 | Fast and bright |
| Presto | 168–300 | Very fast |
Frequently asked questions
- What is a metronome?
- A metronome is a device that produces a steady, repeating click at a tempo you choose. Musicians use it to keep a consistent beat while practising, so timing stays even instead of drifting faster or slower.
- What does BPM mean?
- BPM stands for beats per minute — the number of clicks the metronome plays in one minute. At 60 BPM there is one beat every second; at 120 BPM there are two beats every second.
- What is a good tempo to practice at?
- Start slow enough to play a passage cleanly, then raise the BPM in small steps of about 5 to 10 once it feels comfortable. Practising slowly first builds accuracy that holds up at full speed.
- What is tap tempo?
- Tap tempo lets you set the BPM by feel: tap the button in time with the beat you want and the metronome measures the intervals between your taps to calculate the matching tempo.
- What do the tempo names (Allegro, Adagio) mean?
- They are traditional Italian terms for tempo. Roughly: Largo is very slow, Adagio is slow, Andante is a walking pace, Moderato is moderate, Allegro is fast, and Presto is very fast. Each maps to a range of BPM values shown in the table above.
- Does this work without downloading an app?
- Yes. The metronome runs entirely in your web browser using the Web Audio API, so there is nothing to install or download — just open the page and press start.