80 BPM is a relaxed walking pace, an andante on the metronome's scale, and one of the most useful practice tempos: slow enough to stay in control, fast enough to feel like music. Plenty of ballads, slow R&B grooves and laid-back hip-hop beats sit around here, and many method books mark their first exercises at 80.
This page opens the online metronome at 80 BPM. The clicks run on the audio clock for steady timing on phones and computers, and you can change the sound, the accent and the subdivision at any time.
How to use it
- Press Play or the space bar to start at 80 BPM.
- Choose 4/4, 3/4 or 6/8, or set 1 to 12 beats per bar; the first beat is accented.
- For sixteenth-note practice set the subdivision to 4: four even clicks per beat, about 5.3 notes per second.
- Press Tap along with a song to check whether it really is 80 BPM.
Sixteenths at 80 BPM, a classic benchmark
Clean sixteenth notes at 80 BPM are a common milestone for guitarists, bassists and drummers: about five notes per second, even and relaxed. Start a new pattern at 60 if you need to, climb to 80 in small steps and only go further when 80 feels easy. Record yourself now and then: playing against a click shows whether you rush the beat or drag behind it.
Tips
- Turn off the accent to practice phrases that start off the beat.
- At 80 in 3/4 you get a gentle, slow waltz feel.
- Count out loud for the first bars: it locks your inner pulse to the click.
Frequently asked questions
Is 80 BPM slow or fast?
Moderately slow: a comfortable andante, about the pace of a calm walk.
How many beats per second is 80 BPM?
1.33 beats per second; each beat lasts 0.75 seconds.
How do I play sixteenth notes at 80 BPM?
Set the subdivision to 4 and play one note per click, four per beat.
How do I find out if a song is 80 BPM?
Play the song and press Tap on each beat; after a few taps the metronome shows the tempo.
Can I change the click sound?
Yes. Choose Click, Woodblock or Beep and set the volume so it cuts through your instrument.