Metronome That Speeds Up
A speed-trainer metronome that raises the tempo automatically — set your steps once, then practice hands-free. Play it in your browser or download the WAV. Free, no signup.
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Practice speed without touching the dial
The usual way to build speed — play a passage, stop, nudge the metronome up, play again — breaks your focus exactly when you need it. A metronome that speeds up on its own fixes that: you program the steps in advance and the tempo rises automatically at the measure you chose, so your hands stay on the instrument.
We've preloaded a classic speed-trainer ramp above: 8 measures each at 80, 90, 100, and 110 BPM. Change the tempos, the step size, or how long each step lasts — every section is editable — then loop your practice from the top with one tap of play.
How to structure a speed-up session
- Start at 60–70% of your target tempo. The first step should feel almost easy — clean repetitions at a comfortable speed are what make the fast ones possible.
- Climb in 5–10 BPM steps. Small increments keep the passage clean; if a step falls apart, make the previous step longer rather than the jump smaller.
- Give each step 8–16 measures. Long enough to settle into the new tempo, short enough that the session keeps moving. Drummers running rudiments often use 16; melodic passages usually want 8.
- Overshoot, then come back. End the ramp 5–10 BPM above your target. When you return to performance tempo it feels slow — that's the point.
Stepped speed-ups vs. gradual acceleration
This tool raises the tempo in steps at section boundaries — which is what most speed practice wants, because each step forces you to re-lock your timing at a distinct new tempo. If you need the other thing — a smooth, continuous accelerando where the tempo bends gradually across measures, the way an orchestra speeds up — that's what Subdivide for iOS does: seamless tempo ramps between sections, count-offs, repeats, and one-tap sharing of the finished track with a band or drumline.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a metronome speed up automatically?
Add a section for each tempo step — for example 8 measures at 80 BPM, then 8 at 90, then 8 at 100. Press play once and the tempo rises by itself at each section boundary, so you never stop to adjust anything mid-practice.
What increments should a speed trainer use?
Most players climb in 5–10 BPM steps. Smaller steps (2–5 BPM) suit passages near your ceiling; bigger jumps (10–20 BPM) work for warm-ups well below it. If a step keeps falling apart, spend more measures at the previous tempo rather than shrinking the jump.
Can the tempo increase gradually instead of in steps?
Here the tempo changes instantly at each section boundary — the right behavior for most speed practice. For a continuous accelerando that bends smoothly across measures, the Subdivide iOS app plays true tempo ramps between sections.
Can I download the speed-up track?
Yes — download it as a WAV and practice with it anywhere: in a DAW, on your phone, or through a practice-room speaker. The same ramp plays identically every session, which makes progress easy to measure.