Are you looking for a new digital metronome app for the piano? Below, we’ll list the 10 best digital metronome apps for expert and beginner piano players.
Metronomes are great for developing a strong internal beat and testing yourself on how accurately you play music. Traditional metronomes, however, can be bulky and a pain to carry around. Luckily, there are digital metronome apps that you can download right onto your smartphone or tablet.
Digital metronome apps provide many benefits that regular metronomes simply don’t. For example, once you download a digital metronome app onto your phone, you’ll always have it with you. If you need a quick tempo adjustment, all you have to do is open the app!
The 10 Best Digital Metronome Apps for Piano Players
Metronome App #1: Pro Metronome (Free)
This metronome app has more options than you’ll ever have time to use, including 13 time-keeping options, a visual pendulum, dynamics for accented beats, and tap-in tempo.
While the app is free, you can pay for upgrades, which include vibrate and flash modes, polyrhythms, subdivisions, as well as programmable and shareable playlists.
The price for all the upgrades can add up, and most of the upgrades are more than the typical user will need. Check it out here.
Metronome App #2: Tempo ($2.99)
This app also has tons of helpful features for piano players. For example, the app has 35 time signatures (including compound and complex meters), 9 different rhythm patterns, and accented beats.
What’s more, the metronome app has the ability to turn specific beats off, and the widest range of tempo speeds out there: from 10 to 800.
A free version called “Tempo Lite” has a pared down option set that is better for beginner students. Check it out here.
Metronome App #3: Dr. Betotte ($9.99)
Fans of Dr. Beat metronomes will feel at home with this app that specializes in different ways to subdivide the beat.
With both straight and swing feels, dedicated volume sliders for each subdivision of the beat, multi-beat mode and coach functions (gradual tempo changes), this digital metronome app will get you locked into the beat.
However, this is one of the more expensive options out there, and is probably more specialized than most users typically need. Check it out here.
Metronome App #4: Metro Timer (Free)
This is a great basic metronome app for beginner piano students. It has 8 different metronome sounds as well as a visual indicator and a flashing beat option.
It has enough settings to be very useful, but not too many to overwhelm newer players. Check it out here.
Metronome App #5: Steinway Metronome (Free)
From the makers of Steinway pianos, this free metronome app is aesthetically pleasing with 8 different wood finished themes.
It works in both portrait and landscape modes and has an on-screen click wheel for fast tempo adjustments. What’s more, the app has tap-in tempo.
This is a metronome for users with a love for the visual aesthetics of the piano, but it doesn’t have as many useful features as the other apps listed. Check it out here.
Metronome App #6: Real Metronome (Free)
If you’re looking for real simplicity, then this free metronome app is for you. The app can be used with a modern digital interface, or with an old-school pendulum animation.
It has standard time signature settings and 9 different sound options. This metronome has the basics covered, but more advanced players will want more features. Check it out here.
Metronome App #7: Metronome+ (Free)
This is a powerful practice app with tons of metronome features, plus the ability to record music, save set lists, and play tuning pitches.
The app’s metronome practice mode can automatically increase the tempo as you work on difficult passages.
Be aware, however, that in-app purchases can add up quickly if you want to use all the bells and whistles available. Check it out here.
Metronome App #8: The Metronome by Soundbrenner (Free)
This is a regular metronome app at first glance; however, the makers of this app have also designed a vibrating watch that links to the app via bluetooth.
You can use the app to control the watch, and link up to 10 other watches to the same device so that all the members of your band feel exactly the same pulse.
I wouldn’t recommend downloading the app if you don’t have the watch, as it’s best used in conjunction. Check it out here.
Metronome App #9: Practice+ (Free)
This app is way more than just a digital metronome. In addition to a large set of metronome options – such as customized meters, beat subdivision, multiple sound options, and accented beats – the app has just about anything you could want when practicing the piano.
The free metronome app includes a tuner, recorder, archival set lists, and a looping mode for difficult passages. Check it out here.
Metronome App #10: Time Guru ($1.99)
This metronome app can play in odd time meters and has options for a human or robot voice counting in different languages. You can also program sequences of time signatures.
The app also has a randomized beat dropping setting that lets you set the percentage of beats that you want to be left out, which is great for testing your internal sense of the beat. Check it out here.
Choosing a Metronome App For Yourself
There are tons of digital metronome apps available, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the options. If you’re not sure where to start, pick a simple app and see which features you use the most. Remember, the metronome app you choose is supposed to help you in your practicing, not distract you from it!
Post Author: Julie P.Julie P. teaches flute, clarinet, music theory, and saxophone lessons in Brooklyn, NY. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Ithaca College and her Masters in Music Performance from New Jersey City University. Learn more about Julie here!
Suzy S.