60 BPM Metronome — Perfect for Slow Practice & Learning
Free online metronome set at 60 beats per minute. One beat per second, ideal for beginners, detailed practice, and emotional ballads. Perfect tempo for developing technique and muscle memory.
Press Space to start/stop
Use ↑/↓ arrows to adjust BPM (Shift for ±5)
60 BPM (beats per minute) represents one beat per second, making it one of the most fundamental and accessible tempos for musicians. This slow tempo provides maximum time to focus on technique, tone, and musicality without the pressure of speed.
At 60 BPM, beginners can carefully observe and correct their hand position, breathing, and basic technique. Advanced musicians use this tempo to refine expression, develop deep muscle memory, and perfect challenging passages that will later be played at higher speeds.
This tempo is also musically significant—many emotional ballads, meditative pieces, and classical adagios are performed near 60 BPM, making it essential for developing expressive playing and emotional connection with music.
Classical Ballads and Adagios
Many classical slow movements are performed around 60 BPM. This tempo allows for deep emotional expression and careful attention to dynamics and phrasing. It's perfect for developing lyrical playing and learning to shape long melodic lines.
Contemporary Ballads
Slow love songs and emotional ballads often use 60 BPM or nearby tempos. This creates space for the singer to deliver lyrics with maximum emotional impact while allowing instrumental accompaniment to breathe and support the vocal line.
Meditation and Ambient Music
Ambient and meditative music frequently uses very slow tempos like 60 BPM to create a calm, spacious atmosphere. This tempo aligns well with slow breathing patterns and promotes relaxation and mindfulness.
Jazz Ballads
Jazz standards played as ballads often sit around 60 BPM, allowing soloists to explore melodic variations and harmonic nuances. This tempo gives musicians space for rubato and expressive interpretation while maintaining a steady pulse.
Perfect for Beginners
Starting at 60 BPM gives beginners enough time to think about each note, coordinate their movements, and develop proper technique. The one-beat-per-second tempo is easy to feel and count, building a strong foundation for rhythm and timing.
Detail-Oriented Practice
Use 60 BPM to examine every aspect of your playing in slow motion. Focus on tone quality, finger independence, smooth transitions, and musical expression. This tempo reveals technical issues that might be hidden at faster speeds.
Building Muscle Memory
Slow, deliberate practice at 60 BPM creates strong neural pathways and muscle memory. Each repetition at this tempo trains your body to execute movements correctly, making it easier to play accurately at higher speeds later.
Tone Development
At 60 BPM, you have time to focus entirely on tone quality. Listen carefully to each note, adjust your touch or embouchure, and develop the beautiful sound that is the foundation of musical performance. Beautiful tone starts with slow practice.
Piano & Keyboard
Perfect for learning new pieces, developing finger independence, and perfecting hand coordination. Practice scales, arpeggios, and chord progressions at 60 BPM to establish clean technique before increasing speed.
Guitar
Ideal for perfecting fingering, developing clean chord changes, and learning fingerstyle patterns. This tempo allows you to focus on proper fretting hand position and picking technique without rushing.
Drums
Excellent for developing stick control, learning new grooves, and working on dynamic control. Practice rudiments and fills at 60 BPM to build precision and proper technique that will serve you at all tempos.
Vocals
Perfect for learning challenging melodies, developing breath control, and working on intonation. Slow practice allows singers to focus on pitch accuracy and emotional delivery without rushing through phrases.
Violin & Strings
Ideal for developing bow control, intonation, and shifting accuracy. Practice slow scales and etudes at 60 BPM to establish beautiful tone and precise finger placement before working on speed.
Wind Instruments
Perfect for breath control development, embouchure stability, and tone production. Practice long tones, scales, and melodic passages at 60 BPM to develop a rich, consistent sound.
- Start Every Practice Session Here: Begin with slow, careful practice at 60 BPM to warm up and establish good technique. This prevents injury and sets the foundation for effective practice.
- Focus on Quality: At this slow tempo, every detail matters. Listen carefully to each note, ensure perfect rhythm, and maintain excellent posture and hand position throughout.
- Use Subdivisions: Practice counting and feeling subdivisions (eighth notes, triplets, sixteenth notes) at 60 BPM. This develops rhythmic precision and prepares you for complex rhythmic patterns.
- Learn New Material: Always start learning new pieces at 60 BPM or slower. Master the notes, rhythms, and fingerings at this tempo before gradually increasing speed.
- Work on Difficult Passages: When you encounter challenging sections at faster tempos, slow them down to 60 BPM. Perfect them slowly, then gradually build back up to performance tempo.
- Develop Patience: Playing slowly requires mental discipline and patience. Resist the urge to speed up. Slow practice is the foundation of fast playing—invest time at 60 BPM for long-term improvement.
Frequently Asked Questions About 60 BPM
Is 60 BPM too slow for practice?
60 BPM is never too slow for learning new material or perfecting technique. Professional musicians regularly practice at this tempo to develop muscle memory and refine details. Slow practice is the secret to fast, accurate playing. If anything feels too fast, you can practice even slower than 60 BPM.
How long should I practice at 60 BPM?
Spend as much time as needed at 60 BPM to master the material. For new pieces, this might be several practice sessions or even weeks. Don't rush to increase tempo until you can play accurately and musically at 60 BPM. Quality practice at slow tempos creates lasting results.
Should beginners always start at 60 BPM?
60 BPM is an excellent starting tempo for beginners, but some may need to start even slower (40-50 BPM) depending on the difficulty of the material. The key is finding a tempo where you can play accurately without strain. As you improve, you can gradually increase speed.
Why does 60 BPM feel uncomfortable?
Playing slowly can feel awkward because it requires patience and control. You have more time to think and notice imperfections. This discomfort is actually beneficial—it forces you to confront technical issues and develop mental discipline. With practice, playing at 60 BPM becomes comfortable and meditative.
Can I perform music at 60 BPM?
Absolutely! Many beautiful pieces are performed at 60 BPM or nearby tempos. Ballads, adagios, and meditative music often use slow tempos like this. Don't think of 60 BPM as just a practice tempo—it's a legitimate performance tempo for expressive, emotional music.
When should I increase from 60 BPM?
Increase tempo only when you can play the material perfectly at 60 BPM—correct notes, rhythms, dynamics, and musical expression. Then increase gradually in small increments (5-10 BPM). If quality decreases at the new tempo, return to 60 BPM and practice more before trying again.