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Metronome Online
Use this free metronome online to keep perfect time while you practise. Set any tempo from 40 to 208 BPM, tap the tempo of a song, choose a time signature — 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, or 6/8 — and follow the accented downbeat and the flashing beat dots. No download, no sign-up, and it works on your phone as well as your computer.
Sound starts only after you press Start — browsers require a tap or click before a page may play audio. Tap tempo: tap four or more times in rhythm and the BPM updates to match.
How it works
A metronome is a practice tool that marks time at a steady speed so you can play or practise in rhythm. The speed is measured in BPM — beats per minute. At 60 BPM there is one beat every second, at 120 BPM there is one beat every half second, and at 180 BPM there is one beat every third of a second. This metronome covers 40 to 208 BPM, which spans everything from a very slow ballad to a fast dance track, and you can set the tempo with the slider, by typing an exact number, or by tapping the tempo of a song you already know.
The sound comes from the Web Audio API, which is built into every modern browser. When you press Start, the page creates a short oscillator tone for each beat — a click rather than a musical note. The first beat of each bar is played at a higher pitch and a slightly higher volume, so you can hear where each bar begins without counting. The flashing dots under the controls do the same job visually: the first dot lights up brighter on the accented beat, and the dots move in step with the clicks. The volume slider controls how loud the clicks are, which is handy if you are practising quietly or playing a loud instrument.
Time signatures tell the metronome how many beats belong in each bar. In 4/4, the most common signature in popular music, there are four beats per bar and the accent falls on beat 1. In 3/4, used for waltzes, there are three beats per bar. In 2/4, used for marches and many folk tunes, there are two. In 6/8 there are six beats per bar, grouped in two sets of three, which gives the music a rolling, lilting feel — the accent still falls on beat 1, and the dots show all six beats so you can follow the groupings.
Tap tempo is the quickest way to find the speed of a song. Tap the Tap tempo button in time with the music — four or more taps gives a steadier reading — and the metronome measures the average gap between your taps and converts it into a BPM. If your taps are uneven, tap again: the newest taps replace the old ones, so a fresh run of steady taps gives a clean reading. One thing to know before you start: browsers will not let a web page play sound until you have interacted with it, so the metronome stays silent until you press Start. That is a browser rule, not a bug, and it means the page will never surprise you with sound. Keep the tab open while you practise, and use headphones or a speaker if your device speaker is too quiet to hear over your instrument.
Worked example
Suppose you are learning a song marked at 120 BPM in 4/4 time. Here is how to set the metronome up for it, step by step.
Step 1: Move the tempo slider to 120, or type 120 into the exact BPM box. The display reads 120 BPM.
Step 2: Check the timing maths. One beat lasts 60 ÷ 120 = 0.50 seconds, so the metronome clicks twice a second.
Step 3: Leave the time signature on 4/4. The metronome now plays four beats per bar, with a higher, louder click on beat 1 and a normal click on beats 2, 3, and 4.
Step 4: Press Start. The dots light up in turn — dot 1 bright on the accented beat, then dots 2, 3, and 4 — and the clicks match the dots exactly.
Step 5: Play along. If the passage feels rushed, stop, drag the tempo down to 100 BPM (one beat every 0.60 seconds), and work back up in steps of 4 or 5 BPM until 120 feels comfortable.
Try the tap tempo too: tap the button four times, one second apart, and the metronome reads 60 BPM, because a one-second gap between taps means one beat per second, which is 60 beats per minute. Tap twice as fast — half a second apart — and it reads 120 BPM. The same maths works in reverse: if you know the BPM, 60 divided by the BPM tells you how many seconds each beat lasts.
FAQ
Why does the metronome not make a sound until I press Start?
Browsers block web pages from playing sound until you interact with the page, so a site cannot start making noise on its own. Pressing Start is that interaction: it creates the audio system and begins the clicks. Once it is running, the sound continues until you press Stop.
What BPM should I practise at?
Start slower than you think you need — most practice works best between 60 and 100 BPM. Pick a speed where you can play the passage cleanly with no mistakes, practise it there until it feels easy, then raise the tempo by 4 or 5 BPM at a time. Jumping straight to full speed usually just rehearses the mistakes.
How does tap tempo work?
Tap tempo measures the time between your taps and turns it into a tempo. Tap the button in time with the music you hear — four or more taps gives the best result — and the metronome sets its BPM to match your tapping. It is the fastest way to find the tempo of a song you already know.
What do the time signatures 2/4, 3/4, 4/4 and 6/8 mean?
The top number tells you how many beats are in each bar. In 2/4 there are two beats per bar, in 3/4 there are three, and in 4/4 there are four — 4/4 is the most common time signature in popular music. In 6/8 there are six beats per bar, grouped in two sets of three, which gives music a lilting, swing-like feel. This metronome plays a higher accent click on the first beat of each bar so you always know where the bar starts.
Can I use this metronome on my phone?
Yes. It works in any modern phone or tablet browser, and the buttons and slider are sized for touch. Keep the browser tab open and the screen awake while you practise, and use headphones or a speaker if the phone's own speaker is too quiet to hear over your instrument.