80 BPM Metronome — Perfect for Ballads & Slow Practice
Free online metronome set at 80 beats per minute. Ideal for slow ballads, beginner practice, and developing precise timing. Practice piano, guitar, drums, or any instrument at this moderate tempo.
Press Space to start/stop
Use ↑/↓ arrows to adjust BPM (Shift for ±5)
80 BPM (beats per minute) is a versatile tempo that sits comfortably in the moderate range. It's slower than most pop songs but faster than extremely slow ballads, making it perfect for various musical applications and practice scenarios.
This tempo is particularly valuable for musicians who are learning new pieces, as it provides enough time to think about each note while maintaining a sense of forward momentum. Many beginners find 80 BPM to be the sweet spot between too slow (which can make timing feel disconnected) and too fast (which can lead to mistakes).
Ballads and Slow Songs
Many emotional ballads and slow love songs are performed around 80 BPM. This tempo allows vocalists to express lyrics with feeling while maintaining steady rhythm. Classic examples include power ballads from the 80s and 90s, as well as contemporary slow pop songs.
Hip-Hop and R&B
80 BPM is common in hip-hop and R&B, where it creates a laid-back, groovy feel. This tempo gives rappers space to articulate lyrics clearly while maintaining the characteristic hip-hop bounce. Many classic and modern hip-hop tracks use this tempo range.
Blues and Jazz
Blues shuffles and slower jazz standards often sit around 80 BPM. This tempo allows for expressive phrasing, swing feel, and improvisational freedom. It's perfect for practicing jazz standards and developing your sense of swing timing.
For Beginners
Start with simple scales and exercises at 80 BPM. This tempo gives you time to focus on proper technique, hand position, and note accuracy without feeling rushed. Once you're comfortable, gradually increase the tempo by 5-10 BPM increments.
For Technical Development
Use 80 BPM to perfect difficult passages. When facing challenging sections, slow practice at this tempo helps build muscle memory and ensures clean execution. Focus on evenness, dynamics, and articulation before increasing speed.
For Expression and Musicality
80 BPM provides space to work on phrasing, dynamics, and emotional expression. Practice adding crescendos, decrescendos, and subtle tempo variations (rubato) while maintaining the underlying pulse. This develops your musical interpretation skills.
Piano
Perfect for learning Chopin nocturnes, romantic pieces, and developing pedaling techniques. Practice scales and arpeggios at 80 BPM to build finger independence and control.
Guitar
Ideal for fingerstyle patterns, chord changes, and developing clean alternate picking. Many blues and folk songs sit comfortably at this tempo.
Drums
Great for working on groove, developing dynamic control, and practicing complex fills without rushing. Perfect for hip-hop, R&B, and ballad drumming patterns.
Vocals
Allows time for breath control, vibrato development, and emotional expression. Many contemporary ballads and worship songs are performed at this tempo.
- Set Your Time Signature: The metronome defaults to 4/4 time, but you can change to 3/4, 6/8, or other signatures depending on your piece.
- Enable Accent Beats: Turn on the accent feature to emphasize the first beat of each measure, helping you maintain your place in the music.
- Adjust Volume: Set the metronome volume to a level where you can hear it clearly without it overpowering your instrument or voice.
- Choose Subdivisions: Practice with eighth notes, triplets, or sixteenth notes to develop more precise timing and rhythmic accuracy.
- Practice Consistently: Use the metronome regularly, even for music you know well, to maintain steady tempo and improve your internal sense of timing.
Frequently Asked Questions About 80 BPM
Is 80 BPM slow or fast?
80 BPM is considered a moderate-slow tempo. It's slower than typical pop music (which ranges from 100-130 BPM) but faster than very slow ballads (60-70 BPM). It's often described as a "walking pace" tempo.
What famous songs are at 80 BPM?
Many classic songs use 80 BPM or close to it, including emotional ballads, hip-hop tracks, and blues songs. The tempo is popular because it feels natural and allows for expressive performance while maintaining rhythmic stability.
Should beginners start at 80 BPM?
80 BPM is an excellent starting tempo for many beginners. It's slow enough to focus on technique and note accuracy, yet fast enough to maintain musical flow. However, for very difficult passages, you might start even slower (60-70 BPM) before working up to 80 BPM.
Can I use this metronome for running?
While 80 BPM is slower than typical running cadences (which are usually 160-180 steps per minute), it can be used for recovery runs or walking intervals. Some runners use 80 BPM and take two steps per beat, effectively creating a 160 SPM cadence.
How do I gradually increase from 80 BPM?
Once you're comfortable at 80 BPM, increase the tempo in small increments of 4-8 BPM. Practice at each new tempo until you can play comfortably and accurately, then increase again. Use the gradual trainer feature to automate this process.