Metronome

What this tool does

A precise, browser-based metronome for practicing at any tempo from 20 to 300 BPM. It runs entirely on the Web Audio API's own clock rather than JavaScript's setInterval, which is what keeps the click from gradually drifting out of time the way a lot of simple online metronomes do over a long practice session.

How to use it

Set your tempo with the +/- buttons, the slider, or by tapping along to a song with "Tap Tempo." Pick a time signature to control how many beats are in a measure — the first beat of each measure gets a visually and audibly distinct accent so you can always hear where "one" is. Choose a subdivision (eighth notes, triplets, sixteenths) if you're practicing subdivided rhythms rather than a plain quarter-note pulse, and switch between click, beep, or wood-block sounds to whatever cuts through your instrument's volume best. Press the spacebar any time to start or stop without reaching for the mouse.

Common use cases

• Practicing scales or pieces at a slower tempo before gradually working up to performance speed
• Finding the actual BPM of a song by tapping along, then using that number for a DJ set or cover arrangement
• Drumming or rhythm practice with subdivisions and accented downbeats
• Warming up before a rehearsal or recording session without opening a separate app

Frequently asked questions

Why does the tempo stay accurate even if I leave the tab open a long time?

The click timing is scheduled against the Web Audio API's own high-precision audio clock, with each beat queued slightly ahead of when it needs to play. That avoids the timing drift you get from a metronome built on plain JavaScript timers, which aren't reliable enough for musical timing over long periods.

How does Tap Tempo work?

Tap the button in rhythm at least twice and it averages the time between your taps to estimate the BPM. Tapping more times (up to six) makes the estimate steadier — if you pause for more than two seconds, it starts a fresh average rather than blending in an old, unrelated tempo.

What's the difference between the subdivision options and the time signature?

Time signature controls how many main beats make up one measure — that's what the accented downbeat counts against. Subdivision controls how many clicks happen within each of those main beats, useful for practicing eighth-note or triplet feels precisely rather than just the quarter-note pulse.

Can I use this without sound, just visually?

Turn the volume slider down to zero and the beat indicator dots will still flash in time — handy for a quiet room or if you're using in-ear monitors already carrying other audio.

Why did the metronome not make any sound the first time I pressed Start?

Browsers block audio from starting until a user directly interacts with the page, as an anti-autoplay measure. The first click after loading the page initializes the audio engine — every start after that works immediately.