SuperTime Ultra

Tempo trainer: raise the BPM in planned steps

Build speed with a metronome that raises the BPM for you. Set start and target tempos, step size and hold time, then train in ladder or pyramid mode.

The tempo trainer is a metronome that changes the tempo for you. Set a start tempo you can already play cleanly, a target tempo, how much to add at each step and how long to stay at each tempo. Then repeat the same passage while the trainer works through the steps. Each change waits for the first beat of a bar, so the tempo never shifts halfway through one.

What this tool includes

Ladder

Climbs from the start tempo to the target by the same amount at each step, and stops after its turn at the target.

Pyramid

Climbs to the target, then steps back down toward the start tempo, so the session ends slower than its peak.

Random

Picks a new tempo between the start and the target at each of 10 steps.

Endurance

Plays the first round at the start tempo, then holds the target tempo for the other nine.

Step size and hold time

Add 2, 5 or 10 BPM per step and hold each tempo for 15 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute or 2 minutes. Tempos run from 20 to 300 BPM.

How to use this tool

  1. Pick a passage short enough to repeat and find the tempo where you play it without mistakes. Enter that as the Start BPM.
  2. Enter the Target BPM you are working toward. It has to be higher than the start.
  3. Choose a training mode, a BPM increment and a hold time.
  4. Press Start Training. The click is in 4/4 with an accent on beat one, and the screen shows the current BPM, the step number and a countdown to the next change.
  5. Press Stop to end the session, or the reset button to go back to the start tempo. The settings are hidden while training runs, so stop first to change them.

Practice tips

  • Use 2 BPM steps for a passage near your limit and 10 BPM steps to warm up across a wide range.
  • If a step falls apart, stop and set the start tempo to the last tempo you played cleanly.
  • Set the target a few BPM above the tempo you need, so the real tempo feels comfortable.
  • Pyramid mode ends at slower tempos. Use the way down to check that every note is still even.
  • Several short sessions across the week usually help more than one long one. Rest when your hands or arms feel tense.

Frequently asked questions

What is a tempo trainer?

A metronome that raises the tempo on a schedule while you play, so you can work up to a faster tempo without stopping to change the setting.

How do I build speed on my instrument?

Start at a tempo where you play the passage cleanly and without tension, then raise it in small steps. Stay at each tempo long enough to play the passage several times. If mistakes creep in, go back to the last tempo you played cleanly.

What is pyramid tempo training?

The tempo climbs to a peak and then steps back down. You reach your fastest tempo in the middle of the session and finish at slower tempos, where you can check that your technique held up.

When does the tempo change?

When the hold time runs out, the trainer waits for the next first beat of a bar and changes tempo there. The countdown shows how long is left at the current tempo.

Can I use other time signatures or subdivisions?

The trainer uses a plain 4/4 quarter-note click. For other meters and subdivisions, use the full metronome, which has its own speed trainer.