180 BPM Metronome

Three beats a second — sustained speed, and the stamina to hold it.

180 beats per minute 3 beats per second Marked Presto

Is 180 BPM fast or slow?

Extremely fast. 180 BPM gives each beat one third of a second. Most players can reach it in bursts long before they can hold it through a piece.

What 180 BPM is used for

• Thrash metal A characteristic tempo for fast riffing.
• Extreme technical exercises Where speed itself is the object of practice.
• Bluegrass and fast traditional playing Sustained tempos in this range are common in some folk repertoires.

How to practise at 180 BPM

• Short sessions Playing at this tempo tired is how technique gets worse rather than better.
• Count in bars, not beats Use the bar counter rather than trying to track individual beats at three a second.

Nearby tempos

The metronome above is already set to 180. If you need a different speed, these are the closest:

• 140 Allegro
• 150 Allegro
• 160 Vivace
• 170 Vivace
• 190 Presto
• 200 Prestissimo

Not on the list? Open the full metronome and set anything from 20 to 400 BPM, or tap the tempo if you know how it should feel but not what number it is. The tempo guide covers what the markings mean.