Metronome
Steady time, precise to the sample — set a tempo and press play.
120BPMAllegro
Tempo120
AccentNormalMuted— tap a beat to change it
Tempo markings, from Largo to Prestissimo
Those Italian words on a score are tempo instructions. Tap any row to set the metronome there.
| Term | BPM | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Larghissimo | 20–40 | Very, very slow — barely moving |
| Grave | 40–50 | Slow and solemn |
| Largo | 50–55 | Broad and stately |
| Lento | 55–60 | Slow |
| Adagio | 60–72 | Slow and expressive, at ease |
| Andante | 72–92 | A walking pace |
| Moderato | 92–112 | A moderate, comfortable tempo |
| Allegretto | 112–120 | Moderately fast, lighter than Allegro |
| Allegro | 120–156 | Fast, bright and lively |
| Vivace | 156–176 | Lively and brisk |
| Presto | 176–200 | Very fast |
| Prestissimo | 200–300 | As fast as possible |
Reading a time signature
The top number is how many beats are in a bar; the bottom number is which note value gets one beat — 4 means a quarter note, 8 an eighth.
Simple meters (2/4, 3/4, 4/4) split each beat in two. Compound meters (6/8, 9/8, 12/8) split each beat in three, which is where the rolling lilt comes from — a 6/8 bar is two big beats of three, so the accents land on 1 and 4.
2/4March feel — two beats per bar.
3/4The waltz — ONE-two-three.
4/4Common time — the default of pop and rock.
5/4Five beats — grouped 3+2 or 2+3.
6/8Compound duple — two big beats, each split in three.
7/8Odd meter — often grouped 3+2+2.
9/8Compound triple — three groups of three.
12/8Compound quadruple — the slow-blues shuffle.
How to practice with it
- 1Start slower than feels necessary — a tempo where you make zero mistakes. Clean and slow beats fast and sloppy, every time.
- 2Raise the tempo in small steps. Solid three times in a row? Nudge it up 4–8 BPM and repeat.
- 3Switch on subdivisions to hear exactly where the notes between beats fall. It exposes rushing instantly.
- 4Mute beats 1 and 3 so the click lands only on 2 and 4 — you internalise the groove instead of leaning on every beat.
- 5Record yourself against it. Playing in time and sounding in time are different things.