Online Metronome

Lock in your sense of time. This online metronome assists you with getting your timing right. It’s easy to operate either by using a computer keyboard for speed changes or controlling it with a mouse, Feedback is instant and the whole interface makes sense.

Setting the tempo is done through the big round dial located in the centre. To increase or decrease the beats per minute just drag the cursor around the circle or simply up and down. The large number in the center updates in real-time to show both the current speed and its musical term. If you’d rather control it from the keyboard then press the up/down arrow keys for a single beat per minute change, or left/right for a five beat increment.

How to Use This Online Metronome

To start the click, simply click the Start button. Alternatively, you could use the spacebar on your computer keyboard. As it plays through the bars and beats, the metronome will count them out for you. This helps you know where you are in the bar. Each beat is illuminated with a light on the ring and there is a little hand that shows you where you are. To stop the metronome anytime, either click the Stop button or press the spacebar once more.

Tap out your pace with the Tap Tempo button. Tap that a few times at whatever pace you’d like and the metronome will figure it out for you. Sometimes you just know there’s an inner pulse you’re aiming for but don’t want to guess the exact count. Use this as a way of finding your pace. If you would rather not take your hands off the keys, simply use the T key on the keyboard instead.

Click on the numbered dots around the dial to shape your accent patterns. You can set each beat as normal, accent, or muted. When you emphasize a beat, it becomes louder and more prominent; when you mute a beat, it is completely silenced. It lets you build a complex pattern of rhythms. Try setting two and four to muted and see how well you can keep time while hearing nothing but silence. The tab key moves you between beats and the Enter key cycles them through their states.

Below the transport controls are the plus and minus buttons that change the time signature. Simply press a number on your keyboard to set the beats per bar more directly. A zero sets it at ten. You can go from simple duple time to odd meters such as five or seven. This gives you the opportunity to practice in any required meter.

Use the beat unit selector to choose whether the tempo is counted in eighth notes, quarter notes, or half notes. You can add subdivisions for syncopation or more difficult passages in a practice routine. You choose either Quarters, Triplets or Halves as your subdivision option and then get a set of quiet clicks added to the main beats. Even though these clicks are softer than the main ones, you can still feel the beat while you work on the finer rhythmic details. The subrow indicator along the bottom show exactly where you are within the subdivision of each beat.

Set the sound to match your preference or learning requirements. There are three options: Beep, Click, and Woodblock. Each has its own character. The Click is precise and sharp making it best suited to playing at high speeds. By contrast, the Beep is smoother while the Woodblock tends towards an organic feel. Use the slider on the bottom of the screen to adjust the volume so you can hear the metronome without it being too intrusive.

Reset: If you’ve made many adjustments, the Reset button will bring it all back to default settings of 4/4 time at 120 beats per minute. It’s a neat feature if you’re starting from scratch after playing with different options. You can use Fullscreen Mode for a distraction-free practice by clicking the Fullscreen button or pressing F on your keyboard. The widget fills your entire screen.

Next, try muting the beats and developing a better feel for your inner pulse. Mute every other beat and see how long you can maintain the pulse without hearing it. Then un-mute and see if you maintained the pulse. This exercise will help you become more confident and independent with your timing.

If you are working with a compound meter such as 6/8, then try practicing it at an eighth note beat unit instead. Instead of counting out six individual beats, you can feel the pulse in the right subdivision. This makes the flow of the music easier to learn and more naturaly.

Change the tempo during performance via keyboard shortcuts. Without having to remove your hands from your instrument, you are able to nudge the tempo by one beat per minute with the up and down arrows, or by five beats at a time with the left and right arrows. This enables you to move smoothly between sections in different than speeds. This is ideal if you are performing a gradual slowing down or speeding up.

Create a favorite accent pattern for drills Set up a new accent pattern and then get to practicing. For example, maybe you like to mute every third beat when you work on a certain type of rhythm drill? Set it up ahead of time so you don’t have to change it mid-practice. Resetting is fast too.

Use the visual feedback from the screen. If you play an instrument where you can’t see your hands, there’s a visual indicator called a ‘lighting beat indicator‘ which allows you to count along with it. At the bottom of the screen is a bar counter indicating how many bars you’ve played through. This is useful if you’re doing repetitive exercises or long pieces to keep track.

To refine your accuracy, practice subdividing. Subdividing into quarters will help keep you on time. It will tighten up any rhythmic drifting and make it easier to stay ‘in’ the pocket. It is a very useful tool for improving your performance. To stop it drifting, the metronome sets an exact time and plays the sound according to that clock. No matter what else you have running in the background or how well the browser performs, the clicks remain rock-solid. For extended periods of practice, you know the timings is going to be accurate. It’s a solid base from which to build your music.

Try out some of these sounds that suit your ear. Some players like the wood block because it is less intrusive, while others like the sharper attack of the click. Altering the tone makes longer periods of practice more bearable. This will keep you focused on the exercise and avoid tiring you out.

Adjust the volume to balance the metronome with your instrument. You will want this higher if your instrument is a loud one such as the guitar or drums. It could be lower for more delicate instruments such as flute or piano. Try different levels until you find one at which you feel you have a clear sound of both.

Need a refresher on the controls? There’s a help panel for that. Hit the How to Play button, which will open up the instructions. In there, it walks through every interaction with your keyboard and mouse. If you forgot about some feature, this is a handy place to review it.

Use the metronome in regular practice to develop solid time-keeping. Begin slowly then work up to higher speeds as you feel comfortabley. Don’t be tempted to jump ahead of yourself with the speed if you’re not yet confident. Regular practice produces more effective results than random practice.

For all musicians, an online metronome can be one of the most valuable tools available. You can set specific rhythms and get a clear indication of the beat. You can also make changes to suit your needs and see exactly what you’re doing. Try this on your instrument and notice the improvement in technique and musicianship. Use it during your next practice session and listen for the change.