Keyboard Shortcuts

Enter Start metronome
Space Toggle start/stop
Escape Stop metronome

Tempo Guide (BPM)

  • 40-60 (Largo): Slow ballads, funeral marches, meditation music
  • 60-80 (Adagio): Slow songs, blues, worship music
  • 80-100 (Andante): Walking pace, easy listening, country
  • 100-120 (Moderato): Pop, rock, most mainstream music
  • 120-140 (Allegro): Dance, disco, upbeat pop, punk rock
  • 140-180 (Vivace): Fast metal, drum & bass, hardcore punk

Practice Tips

  • Start 20% slower than target tempo—speed builds on accuracy, not the reverse
  • Increase by 5 BPM only after playing perfectly 3 times in a row
  • Practice with the click on beats 2 and 4 (like a snare) for better groove feel
  • Record yourself—you'll hear timing issues you can't feel while playing
  • If you can't play it slow, you can't play it fast (muscle memory needs precision first)

Beyond Basic Clicks

  • Add multiple tones at different intervals to create polyrhythms (3 against 4, etc.)
  • Use the accent tone (higher pitch) on beat 1 to feel downbeats
  • Try odd time signatures: set 7/8 by using 0.857s intervals at 60 BPM
  • Share your metronome setup via URL for band practice consistency

Metronome History

  • Invented by Johann Maelzel in 1815 (patented the mechanical design)
  • Beethoven was first major composer to add metronome markings to scores
  • A4 = 440 Hz became the standard pitch in 1939 (before that, it varied wildly)
  • Digital metronomes replaced mechanical ones in the 1970s-80s