Metronome With Time Signatures
Compound meters, odd meters and subdivisions — 20 to 300 BPM.
Keyboard: Space start / stop · ↑ ↓ ±1 BPM · T tap tempo
Time signatures, subdivisions and accents
This is the same precision click as the main online metronome, opened on the settings that are awkward to find elsewhere: compound and odd meters, and a subdivision layer underneath the beat.
- Simple meters (2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4) — one click per quarter note, accent on beat one.
- Compound and odd meters (6/8, 7/8, 9/8, 12/8) — one click per eighth note, accent on beat one.
- Subdivisions — quieter clicks between the beats, at two, three or four per beat.
What each setting changes, in milliseconds
The click interval is (60 000 ÷ BPM) × (4 ÷ denominator). At 90 BPM that gives the values below.
| Time signature | Clicks per bar | Interval (ms) | Bar length (s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/4 | 2 | 666.7 | 1.33 |
| 3/4 | 3 | 666.7 | 2.00 |
| 4/4 | 4 | 666.7 | 2.67 |
| 5/4 | 5 | 666.7 | 3.33 |
| 6/8 | 6 | 333.3 | 2.00 |
| 7/8 | 7 | 333.3 | 2.33 |
| 9/8 | 9 | 333.3 | 3.00 |
| 12/8 | 12 | 333.3 | 4.00 |
A practice routine that uses the settings
Start with sixteenth subdivisions on so every note has a reference. Once the passage is clean, switch the subdivision off and keep the same tempo — anything that falls apart was being carried by the extra clicks. Then move the accent by changing the time signature, for example practising a 4/4 line against 3/4, which forces you to count rather than follow the pattern.
Need the tempo of a recording first? Use the BPM finder, or convert a tempo into delay times with the BPM to milliseconds converter.
Frequently asked questions
How do I set a time signature on the metronome?
Choose it in the Time signature menu. The number of dots changes to match the bar, and the first beat is accented so you can hear the downbeat. 6/8, 7/8, 9/8 and 12/8 click in eighth notes; 2/4, 3/4, 4/4 and 5/4 click in quarter notes.
What is the difference between a subdivision and a time signature?
The time signature sets how many beats there are in a bar. A subdivision splits each of those beats into smaller, quieter clicks — two for eighths, three for triplets, four for sixteenths — without changing the tempo.
Why does 6/8 sound twice as fast at the same BPM?
Because the click follows the notated unit. In 6/8 the beat unit is the eighth note, so at 100 BPM the metronome plays eighth notes lasting 300 ms instead of quarter notes lasting 600 ms. Halve the BPM if you want to feel 6/8 in two dotted-quarter pulses.
How to use this online metronome to build speed
Set a tempo you can play cleanly, press Start, and play along with the click. Raise the tempo in small steps only when the passage stays even. A free online metronome works best as a ladder, not as a single fixed speed.
Example: reaching 120 BPM in 4/4
Say your target is 120 BPM. Begin at 80 BPM and go up 10 BPM at a time. Each row shows the time between clicks and the length of one 4/4 bar.
| Step | Tempo (BPM) | Click interval (ms) | One 4/4 bar (s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 80 | 750.0 | 3.00 |
| 2 | 90 | 666.7 | 2.67 |
| 3 | 100 | 600.0 | 2.40 |
| 4 | 110 | 545.5 | 2.18 |
| 5 | 120 | 500.0 | 2.00 |
The interval is 60 000 ÷ BPM. The bar length is that interval multiplied by four.
Steps to follow
- Click the 80 preset, or type the tempo directly.
- Press Start, or hit Space on your keyboard.
- Play the passage several times in a row. Only move on if every repeat is clean.
- Press +5 twice to add 10 BPM. Use +1 or the ↑ key for a smaller step when the jump feels too big.
- If a step falls apart, press −5 and repeat it there before trying again.
Small habits that help
- Find the tempo first. If you are learning a song, press T in time with the recording. Use the result as your target, then work up to it from lower down.
- Keep the beat on the first click. The accented downbeat tells you where the bar starts. If you keep landing early or late on it, slow down.
- Change one thing at a time. Raise the tempo or add a subdivision, but not both in the same round.
- Stop with Space. Take a short break when your playing gets tense, then restart at the last tempo that felt easy.
What tempo should I start at on an online metronome?
Start at a tempo where you can play the passage cleanly several times in a row, which is usually well below your target. Use a preset such as 60 or 80, or press T to tap the tempo of a recording. Then raise it with +5 or +1.