How to practice with a metronome
- Find a tempo where you can play the passage cleanly, even if it is slow.
- Play along until it feels relaxed and accurate several times in a row.
- Raise the tempo a little and repeat. Small steps of 4–8 BPM work well.
- If mistakes creep in, go back down a step.
Tempo markings
| Marking | BPM (approx.) | Feel |
|---|
| Grave | 20–40 | Very slow and solemn |
| Largo | 40–60 | Broad and slow |
| Larghetto | 60–66 | Fairly slow |
| Adagio | 66–76 | Slow and stately |
| Andante | 76–108 | Walking pace |
| Moderato | 108–120 | Moderate |
| Allegro | 120–156 | Fast and bright |
| Vivace | 156–176 | Lively |
| Presto | 176–200 | Very fast |
| Prestissimo | 200–300 | As fast as possible |
Finding the BPM of a song
Play the song and tap the Tap tempo button (or press T) on each beat for a few seconds. The metronome averages your last taps and sets the BPM. Most pop songs sit between 90 and 130 BPM.
Tuning before you practice? Use the online guitar tuner. Want to build a beat? Try the online music sequencer.
Last reviewed October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How do I use the online metronome?
Set the tempo in beats per minute (BPM) with the slider, the + and − buttons, or by tapping the Tap button in time with the music. Choose a time signature, then press Start. The first beat of each bar is accented so you can keep your place.
What tempo should I practice at?
Start slowly enough to play the passage perfectly, often 60–80% of the target tempo. Once it feels easy, raise the tempo by 4–8 BPM at a time. Accuracy at a slow tempo builds speed faster than playing sloppily at full speed.
Is the timing accurate?
Yes. The clicks are scheduled ahead of time with the Web Audio clock rather than ordinary timers, so the beat stays steady even if the page is busy. Keep the tab visible for the best results, as some browsers slow down background tabs.
What do time signatures like 4/4 and 6/8 mean?
The top number is the number of beats in each bar and the bottom number is the note value that gets one beat. 4/4 has four quarter-note beats per bar and is the most common. 3/4 is waltz time. 6/8 is usually felt as two groups of three.
What is subdivision?
Subdivision adds softer clicks between the main beats, such as eighth notes (2 per beat) or sixteenth notes (4 per beat). It helps you play evenly between beats, especially at slow tempos.