🎵 Free Online Metronome

How to Use This Online Metronome

Our free online metronome is designed specifically for guitarists who want to improve their timing and rhythm. Whether you're practicing scales, learning a new song, or working on complex rhythms, this metronome provides precise, reliable timing with no audio drift.

Simple Mode

For beginners or when you just need a basic click, use Simple Mode. It shows a large visual indicator with a single beat - perfect for basic tempo practice without distractions.

Getting Started

Simply set your desired tempo using the slider, buttons, or by typing directly into the BPM field. Hit the START button or press the spacebar to begin. The visual indicator flashes with each beat, helping you stay in time even in noisy environments.

Using Tap Tempo

Don't know the exact BPM of a song? Use the Tap Tempo feature! Click the TAP TEMPO button (or press T on your keyboard) in rhythm with the music, and the metronome will automatically calculate and set the tempo for you.

Flamenco Clock View

For flamenco guitarists, we've included a special 12-beat clock view that displays the compás in a circular format - the traditional way flamenco musicians visualize rhythm. Toggle to "Flamenco" view to see beats arranged like a clock face, with 12 at the top. Default accents are on beats 12, 3, 6, 8, and 10. This is perfect for practicing bulerías, soleá, and other palos. In Flamenco mode, you also get access to authentic Cajón and Palmas sounds!

Custom Beat Patterns and Accents

Click on any beat slot to toggle an accent (louder click), allowing you to create custom time signatures and rhythm patterns. Use the preset buttons for common patterns:

• Straight 4: Standard 4/4 time with accent on beat 1
• Waltz: Three beats with accent on beat 1, perfect for 3/4 timing
• Swing: Four beats with accents on 2 and 4, essential for jazz and blues
• 6/8: Six beats with accents on 1 and 4, common in ballads

Why Use a Metronome for Guitar Practice?

Practicing with a metronome is one of the most effective ways to improve your guitar playing. A metronome provides an objective reference for tempo that helps you identify and correct timing issues. Many guitarists unknowingly speed up during easy passages and slow down during difficult ones.

Build Speed Gradually

Start at a tempo where you can play perfectly, then increase by 5-10 BPM as you master each level. This methodical approach builds muscle memory and ensures clean technique at any speed.

Common Tempos for Guitar

Different styles of music tend to fall within certain BPM ranges. Here are some common tempos to practice with:

• 60–80 BPM — Slow ballads, fingerpicking exercises, classical study pieces
• 80–110 BPM — Moderate rock, folk, country, most blues shuffles
• 110–140 BPM — Pop, funk, uptempo rock, bossa nova
• 140–180 BPM — Fast rock, punk, bluegrass flatpicking
• 180+ BPM — Speed metal, bebop jazz, advanced technical exercises

Practice Tips

• Use accents to internalize feel. Accent beats 2 and 4 for a swing or blues feel. Accent beat 1 only for a straight rock feel. This trains your internal sense of groove, not just your timing.
• Practice at half speed first. If a song is at 120 BPM, practice it cleanly at 60 BPM before working up. Slow practice builds accuracy that fast practice never will.
• Try playing without the click. Start the metronome, play along for a few bars, then mute it and keep playing. Unmute after 4–8 bars to see if you stayed in time. This builds your internal clock.

Time Signatures Explained

A time signature tells you how many beats are in each measure and which note value gets one beat. The most common time signatures for guitar music are:

• 4/4 (Common Time) — Four beats per measure. Used in rock, pop, blues, country, and most popular music.
• 3/4 (Waltz Time) — Three beats per measure. Used in waltzes, some folk songs, and ballads.
• 6/8 — Six beats per measure grouped in two groups of three. Common in ballads like House of the Rising Sun and Irish jigs. Feels like a slow 2 with a triplet pulse.
• Flamenco Compás — A twelve-beat cycle that is the rhythmic foundation of flamenco music, with accents on beats 12, 3, 6, 8, and 10. Use the Flamenco Clock view to visualize this pattern.

About This Metronome

This metronome uses the Web Audio API for precise, drift-free timing. Unlike mechanical or basic software metronomes, it schedules audio events ahead of time to eliminate gaps and glitches. High-quality recorded samples provide authentic sounds including digital clicks, wood blocks, cajón, and palmas for flamenco practice. Works on desktop and mobile browsers — no app or download required.