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Chosen by a concert pianist

Best Metronomes for Piano Practice

The best metronome for piano is the one you will switch on every day: a mechanical metronome if you want no screen at the piano, a digital one if you want memory and extra sounds. Tuner combinations suit homes with other instruments.

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Rhythm is the part of reading music that adults find hardest to fix alone, because a pulse that drifts feels steady from the inside. A metronome is the honest witness. I use it with students to check counting, not to chase speed, and the models below cover a classic mechanical metronome, simple digital ones and two tuner combinations, each described only by its own listing.

Why trust a concert pianist's picks?

I recommend this gear because it is what my adult students need to work through my free 41-lesson course and, later, to use with my upcoming method books. I am a concert pianist and a university piano professor, and these are the kinds of tools I look at first when a student asks what to buy.

What should I look for in a metronome?

  • A clear, audible click you can hear over the piano at a moderate volume.
  • Easy tempo changes, because you will move the setting up and down every session.
  • Mechanical or digital. A pendulum needs no screen; digital models add memory and extra sounds.
  • A tuner as well, only if someone in the house plays a string or wind instrument.
  • Power. Rechargeable, battery or wind-up: pick the one you will never have an excuse about.

How does a metronome help you learn piano?

How this helps you learn: steady counting. A metronome shows you where the pulse drifts, so the rhythm you read on the page becomes the rhythm you actually play.

Which metronome should I buy?

Budget picks

3 picks
Illustration of a metronome — Sondery Rechargeable Digital Metronome
SonderyMetronome

Rechargeable Digital Metronome

Rechargeable digital metronome. Small tools like this make daily practice easier.

I suggest it for an adult beginner who wants a simple beat and no batteries to buy.

Check today's price on Amazon
Illustration of a metronome — Donner Metronome Tuner
DonnerMetronome

Metronome Tuner

The listing says clip-free metronome and tuner combo. It supports practice but does not replace it.

I suggest it for a home where someone also plays a string or wind instrument.

Check today's price on Amazon
Illustration of a metronome — BOSS Dr. Beat DB-30 Metronome
BOSSMetronome

Dr. Beat DB-30 Metronome

In short, BOSS portable metronome. I like tools that stay out of the way.

I suggest it for a beginner learning to count steadily.

Check today's price on Amazon

Mid-range picks

3 picks
Illustration of a metronome — Korg KDM-3 Digital Metronome
KorgMetronome

KDM-3 Digital Metronome

Korg digital metronome with memory backup. Use it to build a steady habit.

I suggest it for a student who keeps several practice tempos for different pieces.

Check today's price on Amazon
Illustration of a metronome — Korg TM-70T Tuner and Metronome
KorgMetronome

TM-70T Tuner and Metronome

Small tools like this make daily practice easier. Here: Korg tuner-metronome.

I suggest it for a home where someone also plays a string or wind instrument.

Check today's price on Amazon
Illustration of a metronome — Wittner 836 Taktell Piccolo Metronome
WittnerMetronome

836 Taktell Piccolo Metronome

In short, classic mechanical Wittner metronome. It supports practice but does not replace it.

I suggest it for a player who wants no screen at the piano, only a steady beat.

Check today's price on Amazon

Premium picks

1 picks
Illustration of a metronome — BOSS DB-90 Dr. Beat Metronome
BOSSMetronome

DB-90 Dr. Beat Metronome

The listing says BOSS Dr. Beat metronome with rhythm coach. I like tools that stay out of the way.

I suggest it for a returning player or a teacher who wants rhythm training built in.

Check today's price on Amazon

What do students ask about metronomes?

Do I need a metronome to learn piano?

Yes. A steady pulse is what makes written rhythm readable, and a metronome tells you honestly whether yours is steady. Use it to check your counting, then turn it off and keep the beat yourself.

Mechanical or digital metronome: which is better for piano?

Neither plays better. A mechanical metronome such as the Wittner Taktell listed here needs no battery and has no screen. Digital models add memory, extra sounds or rhythm training, as their listings describe.

Is a metronome app on my phone enough?

It works, but a phone at the piano brings messages with it. A separate metronome keeps practice time quiet, which is why I suggest one to adult students.

Do I need a tuner for a digital piano?

No. A digital piano stays in tune. A tuner-metronome combination is useful when someone in the house also plays a string or wind instrument.

What tempo should I start at?

Slow enough to play the passage without a single stop. Raise the setting a little only when it feels easy three times in a row.

Where should you read next?

What else might you need?

Would you rather learn than buy more gear?

The shop exists to support your learning. The learning itself can start free: all 41 lessons of my beginner course are published, and I give feedback on your playing at no charge. When you want a teacher, I take private students online.

Questions? Want feedback on your playing?

Send a message or attach a recording. Email, phone and how you found us help me answer you properly.

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