Practice speed

BPM and playback speed do different jobs

BPM and beats define the saved measure timing; the speed control changes how quickly SheetCue advances the visual measure practice flow without rewriting those values.

4 min readUpdated: Product version: 1.6.2

The short answer

In SheetCue 1.6.2, pause practice before changing speed. The chosen multiplier changes the visual measure progression, stays selected when you resume, and keeps the metronome and count-in aligned with that adjusted pace. Tap the currently selected speed to return to 1×. This is not audio playback or time-stretch: SheetCue does not play or alter the sound of the score.

Measure view practice screen in SheetCue 1.2.5
Real in-app view: Measure view practice.

How it works

1

Start from the saved measure timing

Open a prepared score in practice. Its BPM and beats values determine the baseline duration of each visual measure at 1× speed.

2

Pause before choosing a speed

Pause the practice flow, then choose a speed multiplier. The control changes the visual measure progression rate; it does not change the score's stored BPM or beats.

practice controls while choosing A screen in SheetCue 1.2.5
Real in-app view: practice controls while choosing A.
3

Resume at the selected pace

Resume practice and the chosen speed remains active. The visual measure advance, metronome, and count-in stay aligned to the adjusted pace.

4

Return directly to 1×

While paused, tap the currently selected speed value to reset the multiplier to 1×, then resume to use the original BPM-and-beats timing.

full-page practice screen in SheetCue 1.2.5
Real in-app view: full-page practice.

What to know

BPM and beats are the baseline

At 1×, SheetCue calculates measure duration from the saved BPM and beat count. A speed multiplier changes the session's visual timing without replacing those preset values.

The related cues follow the visual pace

The metronome and count-in stay aligned with the selected practice speed so their timing matches the visual measure progression.

Current limits

  • Playback speed controls visual measure progression; it is not audio playback, audio time-stretch, or score sonification.
  • SheetCue does not listen to your instrument or follow your performance automatically.
  • Changing speed does not correct or reinterpret the saved BPM, beats, or expressive timing.

Related guides

Playback timingSet BPM and beats for predictable measure timingPDF score practiceHow to practice a PDF score measure by measureScore annotationsAnnotate PDF sheet music while you practice
Seconds per measure calculator

Turn your score into a measure-by-measure practice flow.

SheetCue is free to download on iOS, iPadOS, and Android.

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