Separate a beat from a strum
A beat is the regular pulse you count; a strum is an action you choose to place against it. They do not have to occur together every time. Begin with four beats per bar and count 1, 2, 3, 4 repeatedly. The metronome’s first-beat emphasis is an optional reference for the start of the group. Selecting four beats per bar groups four clicks; it does not provide a complete explanation of every possible time signature.
Give the number a clear meaning
BPM means beats per minute. At 60 BPM there is one beat each second. At 120 BPM there are two each second. The page produces one click per selected beat, with no automatic subdivisions or swing. Choosing more beats per bar changes when the first-beat emphasis returns; it does not change the spacing between clicks. Start with a tempo you can follow easily and keep the device volume low before testing sound.
Count without the fretting task
Listen for a few bars and say the count, or tap gently if that suits you. Then choose one chord you already know well enough to hold without repeatedly rebuilding it. Add one gentle down-strum per click and notice whether the count remains steady. If counting and playing together becomes confusing, reduce the task. There is no benefit in making every variable difficult at once.
Leave some beats empty
Try a down-strum on beat 1, then continue counting beats 2, 3 and 4 without another strum. Repeat the next bar. That space lets you hear the chord and prepare a movement while keeping the count alive. It also makes the distinction between a pulse and an action concrete. This is an original counting exercise; it does not claim to reproduce a recognised song or a performer’s exact pattern.
Use the tool within its limits
The metronome schedules browser audio, but output latency and screen refresh can make a visual marker and an audible click differ. It is intended for ordinary practice, not recording-grade synchronisation. It stops when the tab is hidden and needs you to start again. The tool cannot tell whether your playing matches the click. Listen to the result and simplify when the pulse becomes hard to follow.
Put one idea into practice
Find a chord shape · Make a session plan · Use a steady pulse