In this article we discuss three of the best metronome iPhone apps for piano players. We recommend SpeakBeat Metronome for its unique feature of speaking beats which amateur and experienced musicians alike will find quite useful. Have questions about practicing with a metronome? Check out our article5 Metronome Questions ANSWERED.
1. SpeakBeat Metronome
Unlike the other metronome apps, SpeakBeat Metronome allows you to replace the "click" of a metronome with a human voice. This gives the advantage of knowing where you are in a bar without needing to count while playing.
The benefit of having a voice count the beat as you practice is huge. Here is a YouTube video demonstrating the SpeakBeat Metronome app and how practicing with a voice can help over practicing with a click track. This is especially useful for music students and music teachers. Instead of needing a teacher to count the beats for a passage in a song, SpeakBeat Metronome will do it automatically.
The app comes with a large range of voices and sports a sleek, modern interface with a light and dark theme.
Similar to The Metronome by Soundbrenner, SpeakBeat Metronome allows for a wide range of time signatures and tempos, and also supports up to 4 bars of different time signatures though its "mixed meters" feature.
Who it's for:
- music teachers and music students - also dance instructors
- any musician looking to practice more effectively by having a device count for them
Who it's NOT for:
- musicians looking for JUST a click metronome
2. The Metronome by Soundbrenner
If you are looking for a more feature-rich experience from your metronome, The Metronome by Soundbrenner can deliver. The app includes many features that go above and beyond the typical expectations of a metronome app. For example, the app can be customized to have the LED or the screen flash every time the metronome clicks.
The app also has a simple interface with a switchable light and dark theme which is useful when practicing in different lighting settings.
The Metronome by Soundbrenner also supports Abelton Link, which many more experienced musicians may find useful. Abelton Link allows you to connect multiple music devices and apps together to keep them all in time. This app is capable of controlling the timing of for example, a drum machine app, via Abelton link.
Who it's for:
- musicians who want a lot of options and who practice a lot of different types of music
- musicians looking to connect several musical devices
Who it's NOT for:
- musicians looking for JUST a metronome and nothing more
3. BPM: Simple Metronome
BPM: Simple Metronome is one of the most straightforward metronome apps a piano player can find on the App Store. The app features a very simple and clean interface, suiting itself well to new metronome users. You will not be bombarded with confusing options or necessary customizations.
The app supports a very simple analog or digital interface which flashes in time with the basic tempo. It's important to note this metronome only counts in standard (4/4) time.
Who it's for:
- musicians who have never used a metronome before
- musicians looking for a simple interface
Who it's NOT for:
- musicians who need customization options
- musicians looking to practice in a time signature other than 4/4