Does the beat really never lag?

Right. Instead of scheduling sounds with timers, Pulse Metronome generates the click sample-by-sample inside the audio engine. That's why the beat never drifts or stutters — even at high BPM or while you use other apps.

Does it keep playing with the screen off?

Yes. Background playback keeps the click going when the screen turns off or you switch apps. There's a stop button right in the notification whenever you want to end it.

How do I save a tempo preset?

There's no save button — every time you press START, that tempo is stored in a preset slot automatically. Your recent tempos stay one tap away, and you can long-press a preset to pin it permanently.

Is it only for musicians?

Not at all. Runners use it to lock in their cadence (try 180 BPM), and it works great for dance practice, juggling, breathing exercises — anything that needs a steady rhythm. It's free, tiny to download, and works fully offline.

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Common Song Tempos: A BPM Guide from Largo to Prestissimo

How many BPM is 'Allegro'? How fast is a typical pop song? When you're not sure what number to dial into the metronome, this one-page guide covers classical tempo names and the usual BPM ranges by genre.

Classical tempo markings and their BPM

The Italian tempo terms on classical scores map roughly to these BPM ranges. They're conventions, not laws — treat them as starting points.

Largo — very slow and broad: about 40-60 BPM
Adagio — slow and stately: about 66-76 BPM
Andante — at a walking pace: about 76-108 BPM
Moderato — moderately: about 108-120 BPM
Allegro — fast and bright: about 120-156 BPM
Vivace — lively and fast: about 156-176 BPM
Presto — very fast: about 168-200 BPM
Prestissimo — as fast as possible: 200+ BPM

Typical BPM ranges by genre

Popular music tends to cluster in genre-specific tempo bands. There are plenty of exceptions, but these are solid starting points when covering or writing songs.

Ballads & slow R&B: 60-80 BPM
Hip-hop / boom bap: 80-100 BPM; trap: often 130-150 BPM with a half-time feel
Pop: 100-130 BPM — where most hits live
House & disco: 115-130 BPM
Rock: 110-140 BPM; punk & hardcore: 150-200 BPM
Techno & trance: 125-145 BPM
Drum & bass: 160-180 BPM
Waltz (3/4): 84-96 BPM; jazz swing: anywhere from 120 to 200 BPM

The 180 BPM running cadence — not just for musicians

Metronomes are also a running tool. Keeping a steady step rate (cadence) reduces impact and improves efficiency, and the commonly cited benchmark is 180 steps per minute. Set the metronome to 180 BPM and land a step on every click — that's cadence training. If 180 feels frantic, start around 170 and work up gradually. The same trick works for dance practice, juggling and breathing exercises.

Don't know a song's tempo? Tap it

You don't need a table to find the tempo of a song that's playing right now. Tap the TAP button in Pulse Metronome along with the beat and the BPM is calculated and set instantly. The app covers 20-300 BPM and shows the tempo name — Largo to Prestissimo — next to the number, so this guide's table lives right inside the app. And when you press START, that tempo is saved to a preset automatically.

Found your tempo? Put it to work

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