Online metronome and rhythm training- Riffonic

A precise metronome, count-in and interval timers for rhythm practice on guitar and bass — right in your browser, no install.

Riffonic is an interactive platform for learning guitar and bass, creating tabs and riffs, and training rhythm, chords, and technique directly in the browser.

How to use the metronome

Set the tempo in beats per minute (BPM) and start the click. Begin with a short passage: one chord, two bars of strumming, or a few notes. Aim to place each movement on a steady pulse, not to play as fast as possible. If you do not know a song's tempo, search by artist and title or tap along with the recording using TAP TEMPO.

Choose a bar length from two to seven beats. The accent on beat one helps you hear where each bar begins, especially in 3/4, 5/4, or 7/4. Subdivision adds clicks between the main beats so you can check even eighth notes or triplets when quarter-note clicks are not enough.

How to choose a BPM

Choose a tempo at which you can play cleanly without unnecessary tension. If you tighten your wrist, skip notes, or blur a chord change, lower the BPM. Wait until several repetitions sound even before raising the tempo in small steps. For a new riff, isolate the hardest transition and practise it more slowly than the rest.

Do not measure progress only by your highest BPM. Note the tempo at which you can play without mistakes and check it again in later sessions. Consistency, relaxed hands, and even notes matter more than one unusually fast run.

How to practise rhythm on guitar

First play one note or muted strings with the click. This makes it easier to hear whether your picking hand lines up with the pulse, without also managing chord shapes. Then use the same pattern on one chord, followed by a progression or short phrase. Count beats and the spaces between them aloud until your hand stays even without that reminder.

Set the bar length and subdivision to match the pattern. The accent marks beat one, but it does not replace counting or explain a grouping such as 3+2+2 by itself. Say the groups aloud and clap them over the metronome before adding the guitar.

Interval practice

The interval timer can alternate playing and rest periods. Choose the length of each work period, the break, and the number of rounds; the metronome remains available as a rhythmic reference. This works well for repeated drills and short, focused sets, but not for playing through pain or fatigue. If your technique breaks down, stop, rest, and return with a more comfortable workload.

Common metronome practice mistakes

Do not start at the recording's full tempo. First find a speed at which the passage is clean. Also, do not raise the BPM after one good repetition; wait for several even repetitions in a row. The click shows timing, but it cannot fix fingering, string noise, or uneven volume.

If you rush ahead of the click, slow down and listen to the attack. If you fall behind, check whether tension is delaying your movement. You can stop the click after a few bars to test your internal pulse, then restart it to check.

For an objective check, record a short run and listen back. Notice whether notes land on the beat, their lengths are even, transitions are clean, and familiar sections make you speed up. If the recording sounds uneven, simplify the passage or lower the tempo. The metronome is a measurable reference; the goal is a steady internal pulse and musical listening, not mechanical obedience to a click.