Online Metronome — Free BPM Click Track
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
A metronome clicks at a set tempo (beats per minute) for practicing an instrument, singing or any timed activity. This one uses the Web Audio API's clock, so the beat does not drift over a long session.
Keeping steady time is one of the hardest parts of learning an instrument. Plain JavaScript timers drift by tens of milliseconds per minute, which you can hear. This metronome schedules every click on the Web Audio API's high-resolution clock, so a 20-minute session stays on tempo from first beat to 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 |
Which time signature should I pick?
The top number is beats per bar; the metronome accents the first so you hear where each bar starts. 4/4 covers most pop, rock and classical practice, 3/4 is a waltz, 2/4 suits marches and polkas.
6/8 is two big beats, each split into three, so it feels different from 3/4 though both hold six eighth notes. At slow tempos treat each click as an eighth note; at faster tempos many players feel only the two main pulses.
Odd meters: 5/4 is felt as 3+2 or 2+3, 7/8 as 2+2+3 or 3+2+2, and 12/8 as four groups of three (common in blues and slow ballads). Count the inner groups aloud until the pattern settles.
Custom and odd time signatures
Odd meters are easier to play when you can hear how the bar is grouped. Choose Custom and type the number of beats, then a grouping: 7/8 as 2+2+3 or 3+2+2, 5/8 as 3+2, 9/8 as 2+2+2+3, 11/8 as 3+3+3+2. Beat 1 gets the strongest, highest click and the first beat of every other group gets a lighter accent, so you hear "ONE-two, THREE-four, FIVE-six-seven" without counting out loud.
The BPM sets the speed of every click, whatever the beat unit. For 7/8 at a quaver pulse of 210, set 210 BPM and 7 beats. If you would rather feel the bar in its groups, slow the tempo first and raise it a few BPM at a time once each bar is clean.
Common tempo markings and their BPM
Approximate, widely used ranges: Largo about 40-60 BPM, Adagio about 66-76, Andante about 76-108, Moderato about 108-120, Allegro about 120-156, Vivace about 156-176 and Presto about 168-200.
With no marking, pick the speed at which you can play the hardest bar cleanly. That is your practice tempo for the day.
How to practise with a metronome
Start 10 to 20 BPM below target. After three clean runs of a short passage, add about 4 BPM. After two mistakes in a row, drop 8 BPM and rebuild. Small steps teach the movement; big jumps teach rushing.
To check your inner pulse, mute the click for a bar or two, then bring it back. Landing with it means steady timing; landing ahead means rushing, the most common problem.
For a click on 2 and 4 (backbeat), halve the BPM and treat each click as the backbeat.
Starting tempos by instrument
Beginner pianists: scales at 60-72 BPM, one note per click. New guitarists: chord changes at 50-60 BPM, changing on beat 1. Beginner drummers: basic rock beats at 70-80 BPM. Singers: scales around 60-80 BPM. These are starting points; the right speed is the one you can play cleanly.
Pair the metronome with a 10 minute timer for focused daily technique blocks. For tempo charts by instrument and the slow-then-faster method step by step, see the metronome BPM guide for beginners.
When to use it
- Instrument practice — guitar, piano, drums, any instrument that benefits from a steady pulse.
- Vocal warm-ups and rhythm exercises.
- Dance, marching or fitness drills that need an audible beat.
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, 5/4, 6/8, 7/8 or 12/8) — the first beat of each bar is accented.
- For any other meter, tap Custom: enter the beats per bar (1 to 32), the beat unit, and a grouping such as 2+2+3 if you want the groups 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.
- To find a song's tempo, count beats for 15 seconds and multiply by four.
- For tricky rhythms, double the BPM so each click marks an eighth note, then halve it once the passage is secure.
FAQ
How accurate is this online metronome?
It schedules each click slightly ahead on the Web Audio API's clock, so the beat stays steady over long sessions instead of drifting like a setInterval beep.
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, 5/4, 6/8, 7/8 or 12/8. The first beat of each bar gets a higher, louder click.
Can I use a custom time signature?
Yes. Tap Custom and enter any number of beats per bar from 1 to 32, a beat unit and an optional grouping such as 2+2+3. The downbeat and the start of each group are accented.
Does this metronome support odd time signatures like 5/4 and 7/8?
Yes. Choose 5/4, 7/8 or 12/8 (as well as 2/4, 3/4, 4/4 and 6/8) and the first beat of each bar is accented so you can hear where the bar begins.
What BPM should a beginner practise at?
Start well below the target, often 60-72 BPM for scales, and only raise the tempo by about 4 BPM after three clean repetitions in a row.
What is the difference between 6/8 and 3/4?
Both bars hold six eighth notes, but 3/4 is felt as three beats per bar and 6/8 as two beats, each divided into three. 6/8 has a lilting, rocking feel.