A Free Online Metronome - With a Gap Mode That Trains Your Internal Timing
TockBeat is a free, browser-based metronome for serious musicians.
Use it as a precise everyday click, or switch on Gap Mode to develop the internal pulse that separates confident players from clock-watchers.
What Is Gap Mode?
TockBeat works as a standard click metronome straight out of the box - just set your BPM, time signature, and go. It also has Gap Mode, a powerful internal timing technique that alternates between bars of audible click and bars of silence - forcing you to maintain the beat entirely in your head. When the click returns, you find out exactly how steady your timing was.
This technique, sometimes called silent metronome practice or internal pulse training, is widely regarded as one of the most effective ways to develop rock-solid rhythm. TockBeat makes it easy to dial in how many bars on and how many bars off, with a visual cycle tracker so you always know where you are.
You can also set a custom bar pattern - toggle individual bars between sound and silence - for advanced internal timing exercises.
All Features at a Glance
Precision Click Metronome
Rock-solid BPM from 20 to 400. Tap tempo for instant BPM entry. Powered by the Web Audio API for zero-drift timing.
Gap Mode - Internal Timing
Alternate between click and silence. Set bars on/off or draw a custom pattern. The best exercise for building an internal pulse.
Speed Trainer
Automatically raise (or lower) BPM by a set amount every N bars. Perfect for progressive tempo training and building speed gradually.
Practice Timer
Set a session duration or let it run free. Tracks elapsed time and total bars played. Review your session history any time.
Time Signatures
4/4, 3/4, 2/4, 6/8, 5/4, 7/8 and more. The downbeat accent gives you a clear sense of the bar without being distracting.
Subdivisions & Swing
Straight, triplet, and sixteenth-note subdivisions. Adjustable swing feel for jazz and groove-based practice.
Count-In
Start with 1, 2, or more bars of count-in before the loop begins. Great for rehearsals and recording preparation.
Fade Out
Gradually fade the click volume to silence over a set number of bars - another powerful way to internalise the beat.
Presets & History
Save your favourite configurations as named presets. Review recent sessions and reload any previous setup instantly.
Who Is TockBeat For?
TockBeat is designed for any musician who wants to practise smarter, not just louder. Whether you are a drummer working on groove consistency, a guitarist drilling chord changes, a bassist locking with a drummer, a pianist building sight-reading speed, or a vocalist rehearsing timing - TockBeat gives you the tools to work at the right pace, track your progress, and gradually wean yourself off the click.
It is equally useful for music teachers running practice sessions, music students preparing for exams or auditions, and producers wanting a quick, precise tempo reference.
Standard Metronome and Gap Trainer in One
Most musicians need two things: a reliable click for everyday practice, and a way to build timing that does not depend on that click. TockBeat does both. Use it as a straightforward online metronome for scales, song practice, or jamming - then flip on Gap Mode when you want to work on your internal pulse.
A standard metronome click is useful, but it can become a crutch. If you can only play in time when you hear every beat, your internal timing is weak. The solution is gap metronome practice: you listen to the click for a few bars, then it drops away and you keep going on your own, before it returns to tell you how accurate you were.
Research and decades of professional teaching practice both support this approach. It trains the part of your brain that governs rhythmic memory and pulse retention - the same faculty that lets experienced musicians play in time without any click at all.
TockBeat makes gap metronome practice dead simple: choose your BPM and time signature, set how many bars on and how many bars off, and press play. The visual beat tracker and cycle progress bar keep you orientated even in silence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is TockBeat free?
Yes - TockBeat is completely free to use with no account required. All features are available immediately in your browser.
Does it work on mobile?
Yes. TockBeat is fully responsive and works on iPhone, Android, and tablets. The mobile layout has a full-screen play view with large beat display, and all settings are a tap away.
Is it just a gap metronome, or a regular metronome too?
Both. TockBeat works as a full-featured standard metronome - precise BPM, multiple time signatures, subdivisions, swing, tap tempo, count-in, and more. Gap Mode is an optional feature you can enable when you want to work specifically on internal timing.
What is a gap metronome?
A gap metronome (also called a silent metronome or dropout metronome) alternates between audible click beats and periods of silence. You have to maintain the tempo internally during the silent bars. It is one of the most effective timing exercises for musicians of all levels.
What time signatures does TockBeat support?
TockBeat includes common time signatures like 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, 6/8, and 7/8 - and you can enter your own custom time signature if you need something less common. The accent on beat 1 makes the start of each bar clear.
Can I use TockBeat offline?
TockBeat is a web app. Once the page has loaded, all audio processing happens in your browser using the Web Audio API. The app works reliably as long as the page stays open, even with an intermittent connection.
How do I use the Speed Trainer?
Enable Speed Trainer in the Settings panel. Set a starting BPM, a target max BPM (or min for downward training), a BPM increment, and how many bars between each step. TockBeat will automatically step the tempo up (or down) as you play, letting you progressively build speed without stopping.
What other tools do you recommend alongside TockBeat?
If you want to develop your ear as well as your timing, we recommend PlayByEar.app - an ear training app with over 50 exercises covering intervals, scales, chords, and chord progressions, with a 7-day free trial.
