How to Use Metriva: A Complete Guide for Musicians
Metriva is a free, high-precision online metronome built for musicians at every level. Whether you're a beginner learning your first chord or a professional refining complex polyrhythms, this guide walks you through every feature — so you get the most out of every practice session.
Getting Started in 3 Steps
Set your BPM
Use the ring dial (mobile) or the horizontal slider (desktop) to choose your tempo. Not sure where to start? 60–80 BPM is ideal for beginners.
Press Play
Hit the large play button. The beat indicators (diamonds) will light up in sync with the pulse.
Play along
Match your instrument or voice to the click. Your goal is to make your note and the metronome sound like a single event.
Understanding BPM and Tempo Markings
BPM (Beats Per Minute) tells you how many pulses occur in one minute. A tempo of 60 BPM means one beat per second; 120 BPM means two beats per second. Metriva supports the full musical range from 20 to 300 BPM and automatically shows the corresponding Italian tempo marking (Largo, Adagio, Moderato, Allegro, Presto) so you always know the character of your tempo.
Time Signatures
A time signature defines how many beats are grouped into each measure. Metriva supports 8 time signatures. The first beat of each measure is automatically accented — you can adjust the accent intensity across 4 levels so the downbeat feels as strong or subtle as your practice requires.
- 4/4The most common in pop, rock, and jazz. Four quarter-note beats per measure.
- 3/4Waltz time. Three beats per measure, emphasis on beat 1.
- 6/8Compound time. Two dotted-quarter beats, each subdivided into three eighth notes.
- 2/4March time. Two quarter-note beats per measure.
- 12/8Compound quadruple. Four dotted-quarter beats, common in blues and gospel.
- 5/4Five beats per measure, used in progressive rock and jazz (e.g. Dave Brubeck).
- 7/8Seven eighth-note beats, common in Balkan and contemporary music.
- 9/8Compound triple. Three dotted-quarter beats per measure.
Subdivisions: Hear More of the Beat
Subdivisions let you hear internal pulses within each beat — essential for clean execution of fast passages or syncopated rhythms. Metriva offers four subdivision options:
Tap Tempo
Don't know the BPM of a song? Use Tap Tempo — tap the button repeatedly to the beat of any track and Metriva will calculate the average tempo from your last 5 taps. It's the fastest way to sync your practice to real music.
Sound Customization
Choose between three distinct click sounds to suit your instrument and environment:
- Digital Click — clean, synthetic, penetrating in any context
- Woodblock — warm, natural tone preferred by acoustic and classical players
- Cowbell — high-attack metallic sound, cuts through loud amplifiers or drums
Adjust the master volume (0–100%) and set the accent volume to one of four intensity levels for a fully personalized click track.
Auto-Increase BPM: The Speed Trainer
One of Metriva's most powerful features for building speed progressively. Configure:
BPM Increment (1–20 BPM): how much the tempo increases each cycle
Measure Interval (1–32 bars): how many measures to play before the next increase
Target BPM: the maximum tempo at which the metronome stops automatically
A visual progress bar shows exactly when the next tempo jump will occur. This method — start slow, increase in small steps, stop when you can no longer play cleanly — is the most effective approach to speed training.
Study Timer
Metriva tracks two separate timers:
How long you have practiced in the current session. Great for Pomodoro blocks.
Cumulative lifetime practice across all sessions to stay accountable.
Install Metriva as an App (PWA)
Metriva is a Progressive Web App — you can install it directly on iOS, Android, and desktop from your browser, with no app store required. Once installed, it works offline and behaves exactly like a native app.
Tap the Share icon at the bottom of the screen, then select "Add to Home Screen".
Tap the three-dot menu in the top right, then select "Add to Home Screen" or "Install App".
Click the install icon in the address bar on the right side (Chrome/Edge).