Why use shortcuts
Reaching for the mouse mid-practice breaks your flow. Even taking one hand off the instrument loses momentum. Just one keyboard shortcut shaves seconds off every play/stop and adds up over a session.
Shortcuts pay off most during progressive tempo work or short loop practice — anywhere you start and stop the metronome often.
Shortcuts you can use right now
These shortcuts are active on the metronome page. They are intentionally disabled while a text input, slider, or button has focus — to avoid interfering with typing.
| Key | Action | When |
|---|---|---|
| Space | Play / Stop | Focus on empty page area (not on an input field) |
If Space doesn't respond, focus is probably on a BPM input or similar control. Click on an empty area of the page and try again.
Coming soon (roadmap)
These shortcuts aren't implemented yet but are on the priority list. They'll appear here as soon as they ship.
- ↑ / ↓ — BPM ±5
- ← / → — BPM ±1
- T — Tap tempo
- 2-9 — Quick time signature top number (4/4, 6/8, etc.)
- ESC — Stop metronome
Tips for using shortcuts
On a laptop, getting comfortable with where the spacebar sits lets you tap it with a thumb or pinky while still holding your instrument.
With an external keyboard, place it on your lap or the corner of the desk so you can reach the spacebar one-handed.
If a shortcut doesn't fire, an input field probably stole the focus. Click anywhere on the empty page area to release it — empty space inside the metronome controls is safest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Spacebar does nothing — what's wrong?▼
Shortcuts are intentionally disabled when a BPM input, slider, or button has focus, so typing isn't disrupted. Click an empty area of the page and try again.
Can I change BPM with the keyboard?▼
Right now, focus the BPM slider (Tab or click), then use ↑/↓ or ←/→ to adjust by 1 — or use the on-screen +/− buttons. Page-wide BPM shortcuts (↑/↓ ±5, ←/→ ±1) are on the roadmap.
What about time signature (4/4, 6/8) shortcuts?▼
Currently you click the time signature controls with a mouse. Number keys (2-9) for quick time signature top number changes are on the roadmap.
Do shortcuts work on mobile?▼
Shortcuts are verified on desktop browsers. On mobile with only an on-screen keyboard, use the on-screen play button instead. With an external keyboard attached, behavior is not separately verified.
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