Online Metronome

60BPM

spacebar

Sound

How to use the Online Metronome?

1

Set the tempo

Use the slider to set your tempo from 30 to 500 BPM. You can also use the arrow keys for quick adjustments, or click Tap BPM and tap at your desired tempo. The metronome will automatically match your tapping speed.

2

Choose time signature and accent pattern

Select a time signature (like 4/4, 3/4, 7/8, 11/8 etc.) from the dropdown menu, then choose an accent pattern to emphasize specific beats within each measure. This helps you internalize complex rhythms and time signatures.

3

Customise sounds and features

Choose different click sounds for main beats and subdivisions from the dropdown menus. Enable optional tools such as Custom mode for custom subdivision patterns, Silent Bars to alternate sound on/off between bars, Timer to fix your practice length, or Swing Percentage for jazz and shuffle grooves.

4

Start and save

Press the Start button (or spacebar) to begin. The metronome will play at your chosen tempo and accent pattern. Save your current setup with a custom name so you can quickly reload your favourite practice settings later.

Time Signatures and Accent Patterns

A time signature has two numbers: the top number shows how many written notes are in each bar, and the bottom number shows the written note value.

In music theory, simple time groups beats in twos (common in 2/4, 3/4, 4/4), while compound time groups in threes (6/8, 9/8, 12/8). For example, 6/8 is often counted as two groups of three — 3 + 3 — but it can also be set to straight 8ths for six equal beats when you want even clicks.

Odd time signatures mix groups of two and three, such as 5/4 or 5/8 counted as (3 + 2) or (2 + 3), and 7/8 or 7/16 counted as (2 + 2 + 3) or (3 + 2 + 2). Some signatures share the same grouping but differ in note value (e.g., 6/8 versus 6/4), which changes how dense the pulses feel at the same BPM.

This metronome accents the downbeat at the start of every bar. Choose a time signature, then select an accent option to set the grouping you want — for example (3 + 3) or (2 + 2 + 3), or pick "Straight" options for even clicks. For custom groupings, use Custom mode to build uneven subdivisions like 8-16 or 16-8-16.

TimeAccent OptionsFeelTry It
2/4
  • Straight Crotchets
  • Quaver Subdivision
Simple duple2/4 Metronome
3/4
  • Straight Crotchets
  • Quaver Subdivision
Simple triple3/4 Metronome
4/4
  • Straight Crotchets
  • Quaver Subdivision
Simple quadruple4/4 Metronome
5/4
  • 3 + 2
  • 2 + 3
Odd time5/4 Metronome
6/4
  • 3 + 3
Compound duple6/4 Metronome
7/4
  • 3 + 2 + 2
  • 2 + 2 + 3
  • 2 + 3 + 2
Odd time7/4 Metronome
3/8
  • Straight Quavers
  • Semiquaver Subdivision
Simple triple3/8 Metronome
5/8
  • 3 + 2
  • 2 + 3
Odd time5/8 Metronome
6/8
  • 3 + 3
  • Straight Quavers
Compound duple or six equal beats6/8 Metronome
7/8
  • 2 + 2 + 3
  • 3 + 2 + 2
  • 2 + 3 + 2
Odd time7/8 Metronome
9/8
  • 3 + 3 + 3
Compound triple9/8 Metronome
11/8
  • 3 + 3 + 3 + 2
  • 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 3
  • 3 + 2 + 3 + 3
  • 2 + 2 + 3 + 2 + 2
  • 3 + 3 + 2 + 3
Odd time11/8 Metronome
12/8
  • 3 + 3 + 3 + 3
Compound quadruple12/8 Metronome
5/16
  • 3 + 2
  • 2 + 3
Odd time5/16 Metronome
6/16
  • 3 + 3
  • Straight Semiquavers
Compound duple or six equal beats6/16 Metronome
7/16
  • 2 + 2 + 3
  • 3 + 2 + 2
  • 2 + 3 + 2
Odd time7/16 Metronome
9/16
  • 3 + 3 + 3
Compound triple9/16 Metronome
12/16
  • 3 + 3 + 3 + 3
Compound quadruple12/16 Metronome

Time Signatures FAQ

How to know if a time signature is compound or simple?

Simple time uses beats that divide into two equal parts (typically with 2, 3, or 4 on top). Compound time uses beats that divide into three equal parts; the beat is a dotted value and the number of beats is the top number divided by three (commonly 6, 9, or 12 on top).

What is an odd time signature?

Odd (irregular or complex) metres use mixed groupings of two and three within a bar. Common examples include 5/8 or 5/4 grouped as (3 + 2) or (2 + 3), and 7/8 grouped as (2 + 2 + 3) or (3 + 2 + 2).

How to count 12/8 time signature?

12/8 is compound quadruple: four beats per bar, each beat divides into three quavers. A typical count is (1-la-li 2-la-li 3-la-li 4-la-li), with a primary stress on each numbered beat.

How to count 9/8 time signature?

9/8 is compound triple: three beats per bar, each beat subdivides into three quavers. A common count is (1-la-li 2-la-li 3-la-li).

How to count 3/8 time signature?

3/8 has three quaver pulses per bar. Count the three equal quavers (1-2-3); at faster tempos it is often felt as a single beat with a three-part subdivision.

What's the difference between 3/4 and 6/8?

3/4 is simple triple: three crotchet beats per bar, each beat divides into two. 6/8 is compound duple: two beats per bar, each beat is a dotted crotchet dividing into three quavers. Both contain six quavers per bar, but the grouping and internal accents differ.

Tempo Markings

Tempo markings in sheet music (Largo, Andante, Allegro and so on) describe how fast a piece should feel. This table shows the rough BPM ranges for each marking so you can set the metronome to a sensible starting tempo, then nudge it up or down as you practise.

TempoTypical feel / useBPM
LargoVery slow; long chords and sustained notes40–60 bpm
AdagioSlow and expressive; singing, lyrical lines66–76 bpm
AndanteSteady walking pace; many simple songs76–96 bpm
ModeratoComfortable mid-tempo; typical practice speed96–112 bpm
AllegroFast and bright; upbeat themes and riffs120–156 bpm
VivaceLively and driving; very energetic pieces156–176 bpm
PrestoVery fast; runs, fills and technical passages168–200 bpm
PrestissimoExtremely fast; show-off or extreme tempos200 bpm+

These ranges are only guidelines. If a piece says "Allegro" but feels messy at 140 BPM, set the metronome 10–20 BPM slower and see if you can play the passage cleanly three times in a row. If you can, raise the tempo in small steps (2–4 BPM) and repeat the same test; if you can't, drop back one step, tidy it up, and try again.

Over a few sessions you can often work a little above the written tempo, so that playing at the marked speed in rehearsal or performance feels controlled rather than rushed.

What is Swing Percentage?

Swing percentage is an expression of the rhythmic relationship between two quavers in a beat.

A common example would be 66%, the so-called "triplet swing". The first quaver takes up two-thirds (66%) of the crotchet beat's time, so it's basically a crotchet followed by a quaver. A 75% swing percentage would be a dotted crotchet followed by a quaver.

We could say that the first quaver takes up as much as the swing percentage's time from the crotchet beat, and the second quaver takes the rest. Going by this logic, we could create a "reverse swing" by going below 50%, and 50% would be just straight quavers, no swing at all so to speak.

Explanation video

Some commonly used swing percentages are:

  • 57% - Septuplet Swing
  • 60% - Quintuplet Swing
  • 66% - Triplet Swing