Metronome
A precise online metronome for practice: set your tempo in beats per minute, pick a time signature, and follow the accented beat. It uses the Web Audio API's own clock to schedule every click ahead of time, the standard technique for sample-accurate timing in a browser, so the beat stays steady over a long practice session instead of drifting.
About the metronome
An online metronome plays a precisely-timed click at a chosen tempo (beats per minute) to help with practicing an instrument, singing, or any timed physical activity. This one uses the Web Audio API's own clock so the beat does not drift over a long session.
Keeping steady time is one of the hardest parts of learning an instrument, and a plain JavaScript timer is not accurate enough over a long practice session — regular timers drift by tens of milliseconds per minute, which is audible. This metronome instead schedules every click using the Web Audio API's own high-resolution clock, the standard technique for sample-accurate timing in a browser, so a 20-minute practice session stays exactly on tempo from the first beat to the last.
Common tempo markings
| BPM | Tempo name | Feel |
|---|---|---|
| 60-80 | Largo/Adagio | Slow, spacious |
| 80-108 | Andante | Walking pace |
| 108-120 | Moderato | Moderate |
| 120-160 | Allegro | Fast, lively |
When to use it
- Instrument practice — guitar, piano, drums, any instrument that benefits from a steady pulse.
- Vocal warm-ups and rhythm exercises.
- Any timed physical practice that benefits from an audible, steady beat — dance, marching, some fitness drills.
How to use it
- Set your tempo with the slider, the number field, or a preset button.
- Pick a time signature (2/4, 3/4, 4/4 or 6/8) — the first beat of each bar is accented.
- Press Start and follow the beat; adjust the volume or mute as needed.
Tips
- Practice difficult passages slower than performance tempo first, then increase BPM gradually once it is clean.
- The accented downbeat helps you feel where each bar starts, even at a fast tempo.
FAQ
How accurate is this online metronome?
It uses the Web Audio API's own clock to schedule every click slightly ahead of time, the standard technique for sample-accurate timing in the browser. That keeps the beat steady over long practice sessions instead of drifting like a simple setInterval-based beep would.
What BPM range does it support?
You can set the tempo anywhere from 30 to 250 beats per minute, using the slider, the number field, or one of the quick-pick presets.
Can I change the time signature and accent?
Yes — pick 2/4, 3/4, 4/4 or 6/8 and the first beat of every measure is automatically accented with a higher-pitched, louder click so you can hear where each bar starts.