Online Metronome — Free Metronome with Tap Tempo
A simple, accurate online metronome that runs in your browser. Set any tempo from 30 to 300 BPM, choose your time signature, and press start — no app to install.
How to Use This Online Metronome
Drag the slider, type a BPM number, use the + and − buttons — or tap the Tap Tempo button in time with a song to set it by ear.
Choose 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4 or 6/8. The accent marks the first beat of every bar so you always know where beat one is.
The click starts instantly and the flashing circle and beat dots show the pulse visually too — handy when you can't hear well.
Why Practice with a Metronome?
A metronome is the fastest way to build solid timing. Practicing with a steady click exposes the spots where you rush or drag, locks in difficult passages, and makes speed something you build gradually and honestly — a few BPM at a time — instead of by luck. Teachers use it for piano, guitar, drums, violin and vocals alike, and producers use the same steady pulse to check that a performance sits exactly on the grid. If you are learning a song and don't know its tempo, find it with the tap tempo tool first, then set this metronome to the same BPM.
Time Signatures Explained
The top number of a time signature tells you how many beats are in each bar; the bottom number tells you what kind of note gets one beat. 4/4 (four quarter-note beats) covers most pop, rock and dance music. 3/4 is the waltz feel — one strong beat followed by two lighter ones. 2/4 suits marches and polkas. 6/8 has two groups of three eighth notes and gives ballads and folk songs their swaying feel. 5/4 is the famous odd meter of "Take Five". This metronome accents beat one of each bar, so the signature is easy to feel even before you can count it.
Suggested Practice Tempos
| Purpose | Where to start |
|---|---|
| Learning a new piece slowly | 50–70 BPM, raise by 3–5 BPM as it gets clean |
| Scales and technique exercises | 60–100 BPM |
| Most pop and rock songs | 100–130 BPM |
| Dance and house tracks | 118–135 BPM |
| Running to the beat (easy pace) | 150–160 steps per minute |
| Running to the beat (efficient cadence) | Around 170–180 steps per minute — see running cadence BPM |
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Online Metronome FAQs
Is this metronome accurate?
Yes. The clicks are scheduled with the Web Audio clock rather than ordinary timers, so the tempo stays steady and doesn't drift — even over long practice sessions.
What BPM should a beginner start at?
Start slower than feels necessary — 50 to 70 BPM for a new piece — and only raise the tempo by 3–5 BPM once you can play the passage cleanly three times in a row.
Can I use this metronome on my phone?
Yes, it runs in any modern mobile browser with nothing to install. Keep the screen awake while practicing, since the browser may pause audio when the phone locks.
What is the accent beat?
The first beat of each bar is played with a higher, stronger click and lights up red. It helps you feel where each bar starts, which matters most in signatures like 3/4 and 6/8.
How do I set the metronome to a song's tempo?
Use the Tap Tempo button: tap it in time with the song for a few seconds and the metronome adopts that BPM. Or find the tempo on the homepage tap tool and type the number in.