Download My Metronome - Tempo Keeper for macOS

You tap a key to find the tempo of a song stuck in your head, then set the beat for a quick scale run before the kettle boils.

BPM detector — Tap along to any track playing; the app calculates and displays the tempo so you can match your practice to the original recording.

10–500 BPM range — From funeral marches to blistering metal solos, the full range covers any piece you might work on.

Guitar tuner — A clean reference signal to check your strings before or during a session, no extra app required.

Clear layout — One window with the controls you need; no hunting through menus while your hands are on an instrument.

When tap tempo misses a beat

A few things can trip you up when you first open the app. Here is what tends to come up and how to fix it fast.

Tap detection feels sluggish. If the BPM detector misses taps, check your Mac's input settings. A Bluetooth keyboard can add a tiny delay that throws off the count — plug in a wired keyboard or tap directly on the built-in keys for tighter results. Also, tapping along to a track with heavy syncopation confuses the averaging; try tapping only the downbeats until it locks on.

Metronome audio cuts out. Some users find the click disappears when another app grabs the audio device. Open Audio MIDI Setup on your Mac, check the output routing, and make sure the sample rate matches your interface. A quick restart of the app usually clears it.

Tuner reads flat or sharp even when the string is correct. The reference pitch might have drifted off A440. Look for the calibration setting — it is a small dial tucked near the tuner display — and nudge it back to 440 Hz. Background noise also confuses the detection; mute other apps and face the Mac's mic toward your instrument.

Mac screen advantage over phone apps

If you have used other metronomes on macOS, a few differences stand out.

Vs. Tempo by Frozen Ape. Tempo keeps things minimal — great for a quick click on an iPhone, but on Mac it feels a bit stretched. My Metronome packs a tuner and a tap-based BPM detector into the same window, so you are not switching between two apps mid-practice.

Vs. TonalEnergy Tuner. TonalEnergy is an excellent all-rounder with deep analysis tools, but the Mac version leans heavily on the iPhone layout. My Metronome is built for the desktop from the ground up — bigger controls, less scrolling, and a simpler path from tempo detection to playing along.

Vs. Metronome by Soundbrenner. Soundbrenner pushes you toward their hardware ecosystem, which is powerful if you own their wearables. My Metronome stays purely on screen, giving you the full tempo range and guitar tuner without any extra gear.

Start and stop from the keyboard

A handful of touches sit just below the surface, easy to overlook on a quick first run.

• Space bar start/stop. Tap the space bar to start or stop the metronome — no need to click the button with your mouse while a guitar is in your lap.
• Scroll wheel tempo tweak. Hover the cursor over the BPM number and use your mouse wheel or trackpad scroll to nudge the tempo up or down by single beats. Much faster than typing.
• Time signature shortcuts. The app remembers your last few custom signatures; a small pop-up list appears when you long-click the time signature display. Handy if you flip between 4/4 and 7/8 in one session.
• Keyboard tap for BPM detection. You do not need a mouse click — tap any key repeatedly to feed the detector. It is mentioned, sure, but people often forget it works for keys you would not think of, like the arrow keys, keeping your hands in a natural position.
• Sub-accent beats. In advanced mode, you can set a quieter accent on subdivisions — useful for practicing complex rhythms without losing the main pulse.

• macOS 11.0 or later
• Intel 64-bit processor