Online Metronome
A metronome keeps a steady pulse so your playing stays in time — no rushing the easy bars or dragging the hard ones. Set any tempo from 40 to 240 beats per minute, pick a time signature, and the downbeat is accented so you can feel the start of each measure. Not sure how fast a piece goes? Tap the beat a few times and the tool works out the BPM for you. It runs entirely in your browser with nothing to download, and you can leave it going alongside any of the practice tools on the site. Practicing with a metronome is the fastest way to build even, confident timing: start slow enough to play a passage perfectly, then nudge the tempo up a little at a time until you can play it cleanly at speed.
How to use
- Set the tempo with the slider or the −/+ steppers, or tap the beat to find it.
- Choose a time signature (2/4, 3/4, 4/4, or 6/8) — beat 1 is accented.
- Press Start and play along; watch the beat dots to stay on the pulse.
- Practice slow first, then raise the BPM once a passage is clean.
- Mute the click any time if you only want the visual beat.
Frequently asked questions
What is a metronome?
A metronome is a device that sounds a steady click at a set tempo, measured in beats per minute (BPM). It keeps your timing even so you do not speed up in easy passages and slow down in hard ones — the single most common timing fault for developing pianists.
What BPM should I practice at?
Start slow enough to play a passage perfectly, then raise the tempo a few BPM at a time only once it is clean. There is no “correct” practice tempo — the right one is the fastest speed at which you make no mistakes. Most beginners practice new material somewhere between 50 and 80 BPM.
What do tempo markings mean?
Tempo markings are Italian words for speed ranges: Largo and Adagio are slow, Andante is a walking pace, Moderato is moderate, Allegro is fast and lively, and Presto is very fast. This metronome shows the marking that matches your current BPM.
How does tap tempo work?
Tap the Tap Tempo button along with a beat you hear or feel, and the tool averages the time between your taps to calculate the BPM. It is the quickest way to match the metronome to a song without guessing the number.
What time signature should I use?
Use 4/4 for most pop, rock, and classical pieces; 3/4 for waltzes; 6/8 for many ballads and compound-time pieces; and 2/4 for marches and polkas. The time signature sets how many beats are in each measure, and the downbeat (beat 1) is accented so you can feel the bar.
Can I use this with MIDI practice?
Yes. Run the metronome alongside any of the MIDI practice tools — the Practice Room, Chord Drill, or Scale Drill — to keep time while you work on accuracy and tempo graduation.