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Set metronome tempo, accents and subdivisions for practice
Choose a pulse from 30 to 240 BPM, set two to seven beats per cycle and add subdivisions when you need to hear smaller rhythmic spaces. The first beat has a distinct accent and the display tracks the main beats. This guide connects those controls to 3/4, 4/4 and grouped 6/8 practice, with a short routine you can repeat without an account.
- Tempo
- 30–240 BPM with a slider and one-BPM adjustments
- Beat cycle
- Two to seven main beats, with an accented first beat
- Subdivisions
- One, two, three or four clicks per main beat
- Playback
- Starts after interaction; keep the browser tab active
Start in three steps
- 01
Define the beat
Choose what note value the BPM represents and set a controlled starting tempo
- 02
Match the grouping
Choose the beat count and a subdivision that fit the exercise
- 03
Count before playing
Listen through two cycles, count aloud and begin a short repeatable passage
Choose a controlled starting BPM
The tempo slider covers 30 to 240 beats per minute, with minus and plus buttons for small adjustments. A setting of 60 BPM gives one main pulse each second. Start the pulse after choosing a value and listen before playing. The best starting tempo is one at which you can perform the passage accurately and still notice your own timing.
A difficult passage may need a slower pulse than the tempo printed on the score. That is useful practice information rather than a failure. Work on a short section until the movements and rhythm feel controlled, then increase the value a little. Large jumps can hide the moment where accuracy begins to slip, making it harder to identify what needs attention.
Match beat groups to the passage
The beat count controls where the accent repeats; the subdivision controls the smaller clicks inside each beat. Set those separately. For quarter-note counting in 3/4, use three main beats. For a grouped 6/8 feel, use two main beats with three subdivisions each. In that setting each main pulse represents a dotted quarter, so compare its BPM with that note value.
Count two empty cycles before starting. If the first-beat accent repeatedly lands in the wrong place, check the grouping rather than immediately changing the tempo. A metronome cannot read your time signature or decide which pulse level the music needs. The following settings are starting examples, and your score or teacher may specify another useful counting approach.
| Practice task | Main beats | Clicks per beat |
|---|---|---|
| 3/4 counted in quarters | 3 | 1 |
| 4/4 with even eighth notes | 4 | 2 |
| 6/8 felt in two groups | 2 | 3 |
| Triplets within a 4/4 beat | 4 | 3 |
Choose subdivisions for smaller note values
The subdivision control adds two, three or four clicks inside each main beat, or leaves a single quarter-note-style pulse. Main beats remain more prominent than the smaller divisions. Use two clicks per beat when checking even eighth-note spacing. Three can help you hear triplet groupings, while four can make the placement of sixteenth notes easier to examine.
More clicks are not always more helpful. If every small division becomes a target, you may stop feeling the larger beat. Alternate between a detailed subdivision and the simple main pulse. Keep your counting consistent as the sound changes. The aim is to understand where a note falls inside the beat, then retain that understanding with less external guidance.
Practise pulse and off-beats at 60 BPM
Set 60 BPM, four beats per measure and one click per beat. Count one, two, three, four aloud for four measures. Clap once on every beat for the next four, then clap only on beats one and three while continuing to count. The silent hand movements still belong to the steady pulse. Stop and restart if you lose the measure position.
Next, choose two clicks per beat and count one-and, two-and, three-and, four-and. Clap only the numbers, then only the ands. Keep the larger beat in your body rather than speeding up to chase the extra clicks. Finish by returning to one click per beat and repeating the original pattern. A small repeatable routine is easier to assess than an unfocused long session.
Use a short passage to diagnose timing
For instrumental practice, choose two or four measures with a clear beginning and ending. Check pitches and fingering slowly before adding the pulse. Once the notes are familiar, listen for rushed entrances, shortened rests or an uneven transition between measures. A steady metronome cannot make those decisions for you, but it gives you a reference against which to hear them.
A teacher can ask a learner to explain which beat feels accented and where a rest ends. Two players can count together before attempting an ensemble entrance. For a new composition, use the pulse to test whether a written rhythm feels as intended. If you only know the tempo by feel, measure it with Tap Tempo and open that estimate in this metronome.
Troubleshoot browser sound and interrupted timing
Browser audio starts after an interaction such as pressing Start. Check your device volume and the tab’s mute state if there is no sound. Keep this tab active for uninterrupted practice. Background tabs, device power saving, interrupted audio focus and a busy computer can change playback behaviour. A browser tool should be checked in the environment where you plan to use it.
This page does not listen through your microphone, judge your timing, save a recording or keep a cloud practice log. It supplies an audible and visible reference pulse. Stop it when you finish or before opening another audio tool. For a performance that depends on uninterrupted click delivery, use equipment and software whose behaviour you have tested under the actual conditions.
Online Metronome: frequently asked questions
What does BPM mean here?
BPM is the number of main pulses per minute. At 60 BPM the main pulse occurs once each second. The score’s beat unit matters: a quarter-note beat and a dotted-quarter beat are different musical reference units, even at the same number.
How can I practise 6/8?
One useful setting is two main beats with three subdivisions in each. That represents two dotted-quarter groups containing three eighth notes each. You can also practise individual eighth notes at a suitable tempo; tell yourself clearly which pulse you are counting.
Why does sound stop when I change tabs?
Background audio behaviour varies by browser, device and power settings. Keep the metronome page active and test before an important session. The tool cannot override every operating-system audio or background-processing restriction.