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, or a marking's name for more (and every tempo marking, with sound).
| 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, and on recent iPhones it plays even with the silent switch on. If you hear nothing, turn the volume up and, on an older phone, check the silent switch.