Polyrhythm trainer

How to use the trainer

1. Choose the number of notes (the layer laid over the beat) and the number of beats (the pulse). Three notes against two beats is 3:2.
2. Set the tempo. It counts the beats layer, so 60 BPM is one beat per second.
3. Press play. The outer ring is the notes, the inner ring the beats. A dot lights up when it sounds, and the hand goes round once per cycle.
4. Tap a layer's name to mute it, and keep that layer going yourself.
5. Use the count row to see where each note falls on the grid both layers share.

Where to start

• 3 against 2: the first polyrhythm to learn
• 3 against 4 and 4 against 3
• 5 against 4, with the quintuplet method
• What is a polyrhythm?

Take it further in the app

The MetronomeLab app draws polyrhythms on the same kind of circle, with more to work with: your own sound for each layer, presets you can save and organize, and routines that line up your presets, each with its own tempo, length and rest. Polyrhythms up to 5:5 are free; Pro goes up to 11:11. One difference: the app's Ratio control lists the beats first, so 3 against 2 here is 2:3 there.

Frequently asked questions

Is the polyrhythm trainer free?

Yes. It runs in your browser with no sign-up and nothing to download.

Which number is the beat?

The second one. In 3:2 the two is the pulse and the tempo refers to it, and the three is laid over it. Swap the numbers to feel it the other way round.

Why is there no sound on my phone?

Check the volume, and that the browser is allowed to play sound. On some older iPhones, web pages are silent while the ring/silent switch is set to silent.

How accurate is the timing?

The clicks are scheduled on the browser's audio clock, not on screen timers, so they stay steady even if the page is busy. Bluetooth headphones add a delay between what you see and what you hear; wired headphones or the speaker avoid it.