A metronome ticks perfectly evenly, like a clock. It gives you a beat to hold on to. Many beginners rush the easy bits and slow down on the hard ones. With a metronome you notice straight away – and learn to stay steady.
What does BPM mean?
Tempo is measured in BPM, beats per minute. 60 BPM means one beat per second – quite slow. 120 BPM is twice as fast and already lively. For practice you almost always start slower than the song’s real tempo.
Getting faster step by step
- Pick a tempo at which you can play the passage without stopping – even if it’s very slow, say 60 BPM.
- First just listen and count along. Then join in, for example with one down strum per click.
- When it goes smoothly three times in a row, nudge the metronome up a little, about 5 BPM.
- If it gets hectic, go back down a little. That’s not a step backwards – it’s exactly how practice works.
Common stumbling blocks
- Starting too fast: slow and clean gets you there sooner than fast and bumpy.
- Losing the click: count out loud so you don’t drift away.
- Practising too long in one go: five focused minutes beat half an hour of tired playing.
The app’s rhythm tool has a metronome, with an optional strumming pattern and chord. You can also play the songs slow, medium or at their original tempo. Start slow and work your way up.
Practise rhythm Play songs