Each time the pendulum swung all the way to one side it caused a loud, mechanical click. The tempo is set either by turning a dial or, more commonly, by entering digitally the desired number of beats per minute, and the sound generated is a short, electronic ping. Many newer metronomes offer additional features. While not necessary for typical instrumental practice, these features can at times be useful. Types of Metronomes Metronomes come in a variety of shapes and styles.
Larger metronomes are the size of a paper-back book or larger.
Each style has its advantages and disadvantages. Larger metronomes usually have a louder click and, often times, make a more percussive sound than the smaller models. This percussive sound is preferable because it usually stands in better contrast to the sound being made by the instrument, i.e., a more percussive click is easier to hear. Larger metronomes often offer more features, too. The Dr. Beat type, for example, has individual volume controls for each subdivision of the beat.