Rhythm
Metronome
A metronome is a device that plays a steady click at a chosen tempo, measured in BPM, so you can play in time and build speed in a controlled way.
What is a metronome and what does BPM mean?
A metronome gives you a click at perfectly even intervals. You set it in BPM (beats per minute): at 60 BPM you hear one click per second, at 120 BPM two clicks per second. That number is the exact tempo of the music.
By default each click is a quarter note. In a 4/4 time signature, most metronomes accent the first click so you always know where the bar starts. For a waltz in 3/4, set the accent every third click.
Rough reference points: ballads sit around 60 to 80 BPM, most pop songs between 90 and 130 BPM, fast rock above 150 BPM.
How do you practice guitar with a metronome?
The most reliable method fits in three rules:
- Find the tempo where you can play the passage four times in a row with no mistakes, however slow that is.
- Raise it by 4 BPM only, then play it four more times.
- As soon as it falls apart, drop 8 BPM and consolidate.
Use subdivisions too. At 60 BPM, two notes per click gives you eighth notes, four notes per click gives you sixteenths. Sixteenths at 60 BPM are exactly as fast as eighths at 120 BPM, and practicing slow sixteenths is usually easier than chasing a fast click.
A metronome exercise you can play today
Set the click to 70 BPM and play the C major scale in open position, two notes per click, with strict alternate picking:
- A string (5th): 3rd fret (C)
- D string (4th): open, 2nd, 3rd fret (D, E, F)
- G string (3rd): open, 2nd fret (G, A)
- B string (2nd): open, 1st fret (B, C)
Then switch to your strumming hand. At 80 BPM, play G, C and D for one bar each with the strumming pattern down, down-up, up-down-up. Every downstroke on beats 1, 2, 3 and 4 should land exactly on the click.
Why put the click on beats 2 and 4?
Once you are comfortable, set the metronome to half the tempo and hear each click as beats 2 and 4. For a song at 120 BPM, set 60 BPM: you count "1" in the silence and the click lands on "2", then "4". Jazz players practice swing this way, because 2 and 4 are where the snare drum backbeat lives.
A tougher drill: one click per bar. Set 30 BPM for a 4/4 groove at 120 BPM. If your syncopation drifts, the next click tells you instantly. The online metronome in the guitar toolbox goes slow enough for this.
Common metronome mistakes
- Jumping up too fast: going from 80 to 100 BPM in one step locks in sloppy habits. Stay with 4 BPM steps.
- Not hearing the click: if it vanishes under your sound, you are either perfectly locked in or the volume is too low. Record yourself to check.
- Using it only for speed: the click also teaches you to hold chords for their full length, respect rests and place offbeats.
Key takeaways
- BPM is the number of clicks per minute: 60 BPM is one click per second.
- Move up in 4 BPM steps after four clean repetitions.
- Master subdivisions (eighths, sixteenths) before raising the tempo.
- Clicks on 2 and 4, then one click per bar, build your internal clock.
Frequently asked questions
What metronome tempo should a beginner guitarist use?
Start around 60 BPM with one pick stroke or one chord change per click. If chord changes are hard, go down to 50 BPM and change chords every two bars. Playing slowly is fine, playing unevenly is the real problem.
How do I find the BPM of a song?
Count the beats you would tap your foot to for 15 seconds and multiply by 4. If you count 28 beats, the song is around 112 BPM. Then check by running the metronome at that tempo while the song plays.
Should I always practice with a metronome?
No. Use it to build steadiness and speed, then also play without it to work on feel and dynamics. A good balance is half of your technical practice with the click and the rest playing real songs.
Related terms
Practise in the workshop
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