Practice tools
Online metronome
A free metronome for piano practice: pick a tempo, a time signature and a sound, and play along. It keeps perfect time, and you can tap in a tempo you hear.
Andante
Space starts and stops; the arrow keys change the tempo (Shift for 10); T taps.
Tempo markings
Classical music gives its tempo in Italian. These are the usual modern ranges; tap “Try” to hear one.
| Marking | Tempo | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grave | under 40 BPM | very slow and solemn | |
| Largo | 40–60 BPM | slow and broad | |
| Larghetto | 60–66 BPM | rather slow | |
| Adagio | 66–76 BPM | slow, at ease | |
| Andante | 76–108 BPM | at a walking pace | |
| Moderato | 108–120 BPM | moderately | |
| Allegro | 120–156 BPM | fast and bright | |
| Vivace | 156–176 BPM | lively and fast | |
| Presto | 176–200 BPM | very fast | |
| Prestissimo | 200+ BPM | as fast as possible |
How to practise piano with a metronome
- Start slower than you think. Choose a tempo where every note is right and even. For a new piece that's often 60 BPM or less.
- Listen for the click to disappear. When your notes land exactly on it, the click almost vanishes under the piano. If you can hear it clearly, you're early or late.
- Raise it in small steps. Three clean times in a row, then up 4 to 8 BPM. If it falls apart, go back down.
- Subdivide fast notes. For eighth or sixteenth notes, turn on subdivisions so you hear every note's place, not just the beat.
- Scales are perfect metronome work. Play a C major scale two notes per click, then three, then four.
Is your timing really even? Ivory listens to you play and tells you what's off: a note that's missing, a hand that lands late, a note that rushes. Then it shows you how it should go.
Questions people ask
What metronome speed should a beginner use?
Slow enough to play every note right and evenly: often 60 BPM or less for a new piece. When it's comfortable three times in a row, go up 4 to 8 BPM.
What BPM is Allegro?
Allegro is fast and bright, usually 120 to 156 BPM. Andante, a walking pace, is about 76 to 108; Adagio, slow, about 66 to 76.
How do I use a metronome for piano?
Set it slow, count one bar before you start, and place each note exactly on the click. Practise hard passages at a speed you can play perfectly, then raise it a little at a time. Turn on subdivisions to keep fast notes even.
What does BPM mean?
Beats per minute: how many clicks the metronome makes in a minute. 60 BPM is one beat a second; 120 BPM is two.
How does a metronome count 6/8?
Here, one click per eighth note, six to a bar, with the strongest accent on beat 1 and a lighter one on beat 4. At faster speeds, musicians feel 6/8 in two big beats.
Does this metronome work on a phone?
Yes, in any modern browser. If you hear nothing, check that your phone isn't on silent: some phones mute web audio on silent.