Online metronome
Accurate, with subdivisions, a tempo trainer and something no other metronome has: the tempos of each period in history.
100
Andante · beats per minute
📈 Tempo trainer
🕰️ How fast was it played?
Choose a period and tap 'Use' to set the metronome to that speed.
How to use the metronome
- Set the speed with the slider, the buttons or by tapping 'Tap'.
- Choose the beats per bar: the first beat is accented. The space bar starts and stops it.
- Add a subdivision if you like (eighths, triplets or sixteenths).
Tempo has changed throughout history
The mechanical metronome was only patented in 1815. Before that, musicians measured tempo with their heartbeat or the 'tactus' shown with the hand. That's why an Adagio by Bach, one by Beethoven and one today don't share the same speed. Read the history of pitch and tempo.
Frequently asked questions
Is the metronome accurate?
Yes. It uses the browser's audio clock and schedules every click ahead of time, independent of screen speed.
What is the tempo trainer?
It raises the speed automatically every few bars up to your target. Great for working up difficult passages.
How fast is an Adagio or an Allegro?
It depends on the period. Today an Adagio is 66–76 and an Allegro 120–168, but in the Baroque Quantz suggested other speeds. Choose a period in 'How fast was it played?'.
Can I tap the tempo?
Yes. Tap 'Tap' several times at the speed you want and the metronome works it out.