Music · Practice
Practice tempo ladder.
Set a start tempo, a target tempo and a step. Get the list of metronome settings to work through, and how long each rung and the full ladder will take.
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Your ladder
Fill the form to see the result.
How do you plan a metronome speed-up?
A tempo ladder is a routine where you repeat a passage at a comfortable tempo, then raise the metronome by a fixed step and repeat, until you reach the target. This tool lists each rung and times it: the passage lasts bars × beats per bar × 60 / BPM seconds per repetition, multiplied by your repetitions. The last rung is capped at the target, so you never overshoot it.
Worked example. A 4-bar passage in 4/4, from 60 to 100 BPM in steps of 10 BPM, played 5 times at each tempo: the rungs are 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 BPM. The first rung takes 1:20 (4 × 4 × 60 / 60 × 5 = 80 s) and the last 0:48. The whole ladder takes 5:10.
Sensible settings are a matter of practice habit, not a standard. There is no published rule for the right step size or repetition count; as a common rule of thumb, start at a tempo you can play cleanly, use small steps, and drop back a rung if mistakes creep in. Spread the rungs over several days if the target is far away. The time estimate counts only the playing, not breaks.
Frequently asked questions
How do I use a metronome to speed up a passage?
Start at a tempo you can play cleanly, repeat the passage, then raise the metronome by a small step and repeat until you reach the target. If you start making mistakes, drop back a rung.
How big should each tempo step be?
There is no fixed standard. Many players prefer small steps; this is a common rule of thumb, not a published rule. Use smaller steps near the target.
How long does the example ladder take?
5:10 of playing for a 4-bar passage in 4/4 from 60 to 100 BPM in steps of 10, with 5 repetitions at each tempo.
What if the last step would go past my target?
The last rung is capped at the target tempo, so a 60 to 95 BPM ladder in steps of 10 ends at 95.
Does this include rests between repetitions?
No. The times count only playing the passage back to back.
Sources
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Beat length and bar length are arithmetic (60 seconds divided by BPM); the practice advice is a common rule of thumb, not a published standard. Runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is sent or stored.