Metronome settings
Tempo, rhythm, and sound options stay secondary to the beat display.
Online Metronome
Set BPM, tap tempo, choose rhythm options, and keep the beat display dominant while controls stay secondary.
Set a steady beat
Set a tempo from 20 to 400 BPM, choose the meter and subdivision, then start the metronome. Quarter, eighth, triplet, and sixteenth subdivisions change how many clicks occur within each beat. The accent option emphasizes the first beat of each bar.
The page uses Web Audio look-ahead scheduling so upcoming clicks are queued shortly before playback. BPM, time-signature, subdivision, accent, sound, and volume changes apply while it runs.
Beat interval and audio scheduling
One beat interval in seconds is 60 divided by BPM. At 120 BPM, one beat lasts 0.5 seconds. Subdivision divides that interval again. Eighth notes at 120 BPM produce a click every 0.25 seconds, and sixteenth notes produce one every 0.125 seconds.
Start creates or resumes a Web Audio context after your input. A JavaScript scheduler runs every 25 milliseconds and queues audio up to 120 milliseconds ahead on the audio context clock. The first click is queued about 60 milliseconds after Start. The first subdivision of the first beat in each bar is accented when Accent is on.
BPM is limited to 20 through 400. Meter choices are 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, six counted beats for 6/8, and seven counted beats for 7/8. Subdivision choices are 1, 2, 3, or 4 clicks per beat. Settings can change while playback runs, but clicks already queued in the look-ahead window keep their old settings. A queued click may also sound just after Stop.
Tap tempo keeps up to eight taps. After at least four taps, it averages intervals from 180 to 2,000 milliseconds and rounds the resulting 60,000 divided by average interval to a whole BPM. A gap longer than two seconds starts a new tap set.
Web Audio scheduling reduces ordinary JavaScript timer jitter, but it does not make this page studio-grade, sample-accurate, or drift-free equipment. Audio output latency, wireless devices, browser suspension, background throttling, heavy load, and device sleep can interrupt or delay playback. The visual pulse updates when a click is scheduled, so it can appear slightly before the sound.
The guide to browser timing and delayed callbacks explains why the audio clock and JavaScript look-ahead loop have separate roles.
Sources: Web Audio API specification.
Metronome or BPM Tapper?
Use this metronome when you already know the tempo and want a steady generated pulse. If you have a rhythm but do not know its tempo, tap it into the BPM Tapper first, then set the resulting BPM here.
Browser audio limitations
A click or tap may be required before the browser allows audio. Browser suspension, high device load, wireless audio latency, and power-saving behavior can affect what you hear. This is a practical browser metronome, not certified timing equipment.
For a step-by-step check of autoplay policy, suspended audio, mute controls, and output routing, read why browser audio may stay silent.
Online metronome FAQ
What BPM range does this metronome support?
The BPM control supports 20 to 400 beats per minute. Arrow keys change BPM by one, or by five while Shift is held.
Which time signatures and subdivisions are available?
The tool includes 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, six-beat 6/8, and seven-beat 7/8 patterns, with quarter, eighth, triplet, and sixteenth subdivisions.
How is the BPM Tapper different?
The metronome generates a steady beat at a selected BPM. The BPM Tapper estimates the tempo of the rhythm you tap.
Can background tabs affect the beat?
Audio is scheduled slightly ahead with the Web Audio API, but browser suspension, device load, power-saving behavior, and audio output latency can still affect playback.