Browser Metronome
Metronome BPM, tap tempo & time signature guide
How to use the online metronome
Choose a tempo from 30 to 300 BPM, select a time signature and press Start. Listen for the main clicks and play along. Accent strengthens the first beat of each bar, while · Tick adds a softer click halfway between the main beats.
For focused practice, begin at a BPM where the music feels controlled. Increase the tempo gradually after you can repeat the passage accurately and without tension.
BPM, tempo markings and click units
BPM means beats per minute. In meters ending in /4, Browser Metronome counts quarter-note clicks (♩). In 6/8 and 12/8, it counts the displayed eighth-note clicks (♪), not the conventional dotted-quarter pulse.
The Italian names are approximate educational guides. Their meaning varies by musical period, style, composer and performer.
| BPM | Tempo name |
|---|---|
| 30–59 | Largo |
| 60–75 | Adagio |
| 76–107 | Andante |
| 108–119 | Moderato |
| 120–155 | Allegro |
| 156–167 | Vivace |
| 168–199 | Presto |
| 200–300 | Prestissimo |
Tap tempo
Press Tap tempo repeatedly in time with a song or the pulse you have in mind. Browser Metronome estimates the tempo from your recent taps and updates the BPM control. If more than about two seconds pass between taps, it starts a new estimate.
Tap tempo follows the displayed click unit: quarter notes in /4 meters and eighth notes in 6/8 and 12/8.
Time signatures and subdivisions
Choose 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 6/4, 6/8, 7/4 or 12/8 to set the number and type of displayed clicks in each bar. In 6/8 and 12/8, the metronome deliberately shows and sounds individual eighth-note clicks rather than combining them into dotted-quarter beats.
Each note head is a main click. The middle dot after it marks the halfway “and”. In /4 meters that dot is an eighth-note midpoint; in /8 meters it is a sixteenth-note midpoint. · Tick adds a soft click at those dots, while Accent strengthens beat 1.
Visual beats and keyboard controls
When focus is outside a control, Space starts or pauses, T records a tap, R resets, and the arrow keys adjust tempo by one BPM.
Frequently asked questions
How do I use an online metronome?
Choose a BPM and time signature, press Start, and play along with the main clicks. Begin slowly enough to play accurately before increasing the tempo.
What BPM should I practise at?
Start at a tempo where you can perform the passage consistently and without tension. Increase the BPM gradually only after it feels controlled.
How does tap tempo work?
Press Tap tempo repeatedly in time with the music. The metronome estimates BPM from recent taps using the displayed quarter-note or eighth-note click unit.
What do Largo, Andante and Allegro mean?
They are approximate Italian tempo descriptions. Their interpretation varies by style, period and performer, so the displayed ranges are educational guides rather than strict rules.
What do the dots between the notes mean?
Each dot marks the midpoint between two displayed clicks—the spoken “and” in simple counting. In 6/8 and 12/8, it is a sixteenth-note midpoint between displayed eighth-note clicks.
What is the difference between Accent and · Tick?
Accent makes the first main beat of each bar sound stronger. · Tick adds a softer click halfway between every pair of main clicks.
Can I use a keyboard?
Yes. When focus is outside a control, Space starts or pauses, T records a tap, R resets the metronome, and the arrow keys change the tempo by one BPM.
Does the metronome work offline?
After a successful online visit, supported browsers can cache the essential files. You can also optionally add the site to your Home Screen.
Will it keep playing in another tab or with the screen locked?
It may continue in some browser and device combinations, but operating-system power and background-audio policies can interrupt it. Screen Wake Lock only helps keep a supported foreground screen awake.
Why can’t I hear the metronome?
Check the metronome volume, device media volume, silent mode and browser audio or autoplay settings. On some mobile devices, returning to the page and pressing Resume is necessary.
Is Browser Metronome free and private?
Yes. It is free and ad-free, requires no account, and does not use tracking, cookies or analytics.