Rhythm game
Timekeeper: tap along and learn to read rhythm
A rhythm appears, a click counts you in, and you tap every note. Each note lights up to show whether you were on the beat, close, or off, so you can hear and see your timing improve.
Free to play. No account or download. Works on computers, tablets, and phones.
How it works
- Pick a time signature, a level, and a tempo from 40 to 160 BPM. Press Hear it to listen to the rhythm first.
- Press the big pad to start. The click counts you in: 1, 2, ready, go.
- Tap the pad, or press the Space bar, on every note. Rests are silent, so don't tap on them.
- Notes turn green when you're on the beat, blue when you're close, and red when you missed or were far off. You also find out whether you tend to rush or drag.
- Each round earns up to three stars. Stars unlock the next levels. Once you've mastered a level select a smaller subdivision to earn more stars.
What you'll practice
- Quarters and halvesOpen from the start
- Eighth notesOpen from the start
- RestsOpens when you collect 12 stars (open right away with Premium)
- SixteenthsOpens when you collect 12 stars (open right away with Premium)
- SyncopationOpens when you collect 24 stars (open right away with Premium)
- Dotted rhythmsOpens when you collect 36 stars (open right away with Premium)
Every level comes in 4/4, 3/4, 2/4, and 6/8 time.
Tips for steadier rhythm
Count out loud
Say the beats while you tap: "1, 2, 3, 4". For eighth notes, add "and" between beats: "1 and 2 and". For sixteenths, use "1 e and a". Counting keeps your place through rests and long notes.
Slow down first
Start around 60 to 70 BPM. Raise the tempo only after you earn three stars. Being right at a slow tempo builds speed faster than being sloppy at a fast one.
Keep counting through rests
A rest is a beat you don't play, not a pause in the music. Keep counting and come back in exactly on time. It helps to feel the rests as if you were playing them.
Feeling 6/8
A bar of 6/8 has six eighth notes grouped in two sets of three: "1 2 3, 4 5 6". It feels like two big beats, and the click follows those two beats.
If your taps always read late
Bluetooth headphones and some speakers delay the sound. Wired headphones or your device's own speaker help. If your taps still read late, raise the Timing offset at the bottom of the game screen.
Free and Premium
Free
Quarters through sixteenths, then syncopation and dotted rhythms, in 4/4, 3/4, 2/4, and 6/8 at 40 to 160 BPM. Collect stars to unlock each new level.
Premium $9.99, one time
Every level open from day one, plus 4 and 8 bar phrases with a different rhythm in every bar.
Questions
Do I need an instrument?
No. You tap on the screen or press the Space bar. It works anywhere you can hear the click.
How do the stars work?
Every note scores points for how close your tap was. 90% earns three stars, 70% earns two, and 40% earns one. Each level keeps its best round in each time signature, so there are stars to collect in 4/4, 3/4, 2/4, and 6/8.
Is Timekeeper free?
Yes. Every level, every time signature, and the full tempo range are free. Premium opens every level from day one and adds 4 and 8 bar phrases with a different rhythm in every bar.
Why does it say I tap late when I don't feel late?
Usually the sound is reaching you late, not your taps. See "If your taps always read late" above.
Keep going
Rhythm and note reading go together. Practice the notes in Clef Quest, then try tapping out the rhythm in sheet music you are learning as if you were playing Timekeeper.