What BPM measures
BPM means beats per minute. At 60 BPM each click is one second apart; at 120 BPM it is half a second apart. TempoPro treats each click as the beat unit selected in the time signature.
Read a time signature
The top number is the number of counted beats in a measure. The bottom number identifies the note value of those beats: 2 means half notes, 4 means quarter notes, and 8 means eighth notes.
| Meter | TempoPro clicks | Counting example |
|---|---|---|
| 3/4 | Three quarter-note beats | One, two, three |
| 4/4 | Four quarter-note beats | One, two, three, four |
| 6/8 | Six eighth-note beats | ONE, two, three, FOUR, five, six |
Be careful with compound meter
In 6/8, musicians often feel two larger beats, each made of three eighth notes. TempoPro currently clicks all six eighth-note beats, with an accent on the first. To represent a dotted-quarter pulse of 60, set the metronome to 180 BPM in 6/8. This is a deliberate counting convention; changing the denominator alone does not automatically multiply the click speed.
Subdivide without changing the beat
For eighth notes in 4/4, count “one-and, two-and.” For sixteenth notes, try “one-e-and-a, two-e-and-a.” Keep the click on the numbered counts and distribute the other notes evenly between clicks.
Use the accent as a landmark
A higher first click marks the start of each measure. Keep the downbeat accent enabled while learning a passage. Turn it off when you want to test whether you can maintain the grouping yourself.
Tempo names are approximate
Labels such as Andante and Allegro describe character as well as speed. TempoPro’s labels are a convenient reference. Follow your score, teacher, and musical context when choosing a tempo.