Online Metronome
Set a steady click in seconds with tap tempo, a clear first-beat accent and browser-saved settings.
- More accurate results
- Fewer clicks, keyboard friendly
Ready to play
Tap count: 0. Tap twice or more at a steady pace to set BPM.
Time signature
The first click is accented; 6/8 plays six eighth-note pulses per bar.
How to use
- Set the tempo between 20 and 300 BPM, or press Tap tempo in time with the music.
- Choose 2/4, 3/4, 4/4 or 6/8 so the first click marks each bar.
- Press Start or Space to begin the click; press the same control again to stop it.
- Use T to tap a tempo while the page is open, then keep practicing at the detected BPM.
How this Web Audio metronome keeps a steadier click
The metronome generates one complete bar as a small audio buffer and asks the browser’s Web Audio engine to loop it. The repeat therefore stays on the audio timeline instead of depending on a JavaScript timer for every beat, so a throttled background tab cannot queue missed clicks or play a catch-up burst. The buffer is bounded to one bar: from 0.4 seconds at 300 BPM in 2/4 to 18 seconds at 20 BPM in 6/8. It does not remove latency added by Bluetooth headphones or a device’s speakers; use wired headphones or speakers for close timing practice. The screen beat indicator is visual feedback only and may pause when a tab is hidden, while the audio loop remains the timing reference.
Tap tempo uses the average interval between your taps
BPM means beats per minute, so 60 BPM is one beat per second and 120 BPM is two beats per second. Tap tempo measures the gap between taps and calculates BPM as 60,000 divided by the average gap in milliseconds. This tool uses up to the latest seven intervals, so it begins setting a tempo after two taps and becomes less sensitive to one slightly early or late tap as you continue. A pause longer than 2 seconds starts a new tap sequence, preventing an old tempo from affecting the next song.
Set the beat unit before practicing compound metre
The top number in a time signature tells you how many beat units occur in a bar. In 4/4, this metronome plays four clicks and accents click 1. In the 6/8 setting, it plays six eighth-note pulses and accents the first; many pieces are felt as two groups of three, so set the BPM for the pulse written in your score before starting. The accent is a higher-pitched click, which makes the start of the bar audible without adding a second control. The available settings cover common practice patterns while keeping the start controls visible.
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is this online metronome?
A complete bar loops on the Web Audio timeline instead of being played beat by beat from a repeating JavaScript timer. That keeps intervals steady when screen updates are delayed, but Bluetooth and speaker processing can still add audible output delay.
How many taps do I need for tap tempo?
Two taps are enough to calculate an initial BPM because they create one interval. The metronome averages up to the latest seven intervals, so six to eight even taps usually give a more stable result than a single interval.
What BPM range does the metronome support?
This metronome accepts whole-number tempos from 20 to 300 BPM. At 60 BPM each pulse is 1 second apart, and at 120 BPM each pulse is 0.5 seconds apart.
Are my metronome settings saved?
Yes. Tempo, volume and time-signature choice are stored only in this browser’s local storage and are restored when you return. Starting audio still requires a button press or Space because browsers block automatic sound playback.
Which keyboard shortcuts work?
Space starts or stops the metronome, and T adds a tap-tempo beat. The shortcuts are ignored while a number input is focused, so they do not interfere with editing a BPM or volume value.
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Updated 2026-10-24