diff --git a/src/core/audio-interface/KGAudioInterface.test.ts b/src/core/audio-interface/KGAudioInterface.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..64b15af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/audio-interface/KGAudioInterface.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { createMockProject } from '../../test/utils/mock-data'
+import { MockTransport } from '../../test/mocks/tone'
+
+vi.mock('tone', async () => {
+  const { ToneMock } = await import('../../test/mocks/tone')
+  return ToneMock
+})
+
+vi.mock('../KGCore', () => ({
+  KGCore: {
+    instance: vi.fn()
+  }
+}))
+
+vi.mock('../config/ConfigManager', () => ({
+  ConfigManager: {
+    instance: vi.fn()
+  }
+}))
+
+import { KGCore } from '../KGCore'
+import { ConfigManager } from '../config/ConfigManager'
+import { KGAudioInterface } from './KGAudioInterface'
+
+describe('KGAudioInterface preroll playback', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers()
+    vi.clearAllMocks()
+
+    MockTransport.position = 0
+    MockTransport.start.mockClear()
+    MockTransport.stop.mockClear()
+    MockTransport.clear.mockClear()
+    MockTransport.schedule.mockClear()
+    MockTransport.bpm.value = 120
+
+    const project = createMockProject({
+      bpm: 120,
+      timeSignature: { numerator: 4, denominator: 4 },
+      tracks: [],
+    })
+
+    vi.mocked(KGCore.instance).mockReturnValue({
+      getCurrentProject: () => project,
+    } as unknown as KGCore)
+
+    vi.mocked(ConfigManager.instance).mockReturnValue({
+      get: (key: string) => {
+        if (key === 'audio.playback_delay') return 0.2
+        if (key === 'audio.lookahead_time') return 0.05
+        return null
+      },
+    } as unknown as ConfigManager)
+
+    ;(KGAudioInterface as unknown as { _instance: KGAudioInterface | null })._instance = null
+  })
+
+  it('uses virtual negative beats until the delayed transport start reaches beat 0', () => {
+    const project = KGCore.instance().getCurrentProject()
+    const audio = KGAudioInterface.instance()
+    ;(audio as unknown as { isInitialized: boolean }).isInitialized = true
+    ;(audio as unknown as { isAudioContextStarted: boolean }).isAudioContextStarted = true
+
+    const metronomeStart = vi.spyOn((audio as unknown as { metronome: { start: (...args: unknown[]) => void } }).metronome, 'start')
+    audio.setMetronomeEnabled(true)
+
+    audio.preparePlayback(project, -2)
+    audio.startPlayback()
+
+    expect(MockTransport.position).toBe(0)
+    expect(MockTransport.start).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(metronomeStart).toHaveBeenCalledWith(-2, 4, 0.2)
+    expect(audio.getTransportPosition()).toBeCloseTo(-2, 2)
+
+    vi.advanceTimersByTime(500)
+    expect(audio.getTransportPosition()).toBeCloseTo(-1, 1)
+
+    vi.advanceTimersByTime(500)
+    expect(MockTransport.start).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(audio.getTransportPosition()).toBe(0)
+  })
+
+  it('cancels the delayed transport start when playback stops during preroll', () => {
+    const project = KGCore.instance().getCurrentProject()
+    const audio = KGAudioInterface.instance()
+    ;(audio as unknown as { isInitialized: boolean }).isInitialized = true
+    ;(audio as unknown as { isAudioContextStarted: boolean }).isAudioContextStarted = true
+
+    audio.preparePlayback(project, -2)
+    audio.startPlayback()
+    audio.stopPlayback()
+    vi.runAllTimers()
+
+    expect(MockTransport.start).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(MockTransport.stop).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(audio.getTransportPosition()).toBe(0)
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/core/audio-interface/KGAudioInterface.ts b/src/core/audio-interface/KGAudioInterface.ts
index 1c8f600..ae97c2d 100644
--- a/src/core/audio-interface/KGAudioInterface.ts
+++ b/src/core/audio-interface/KGAudioInterface.ts
@@ -42,6 +42,10 @@ export class KGAudioInterface {
   private isPlaying: boolean = false;
   private masterVolume: number = AUDIO_INTERFACE_CONSTANTS.DEFAULT_MASTER_VOLUME;
   private scheduledEvents: Set<number> = new Set(); // Tone event IDs
+  private delayedTransportStartTimeoutId: number | null = null;
+  private delayedTransportStartMs: number = 0;
+  private virtualPrerollStartBeat: number | null = null;
+  private virtualPrerollStartTimeMs: number | null = null;
 
   // Master volume control
   private masterGain: Tone.Gain | null = null;
@@ -390,6 +394,7 @@ export class KGAudioInterface {
   public preparePlayback(project: KGProject, startPosition: number): void {
     // Clear any existing scheduled events
     this.clearScheduledEvents();
+    this.clearDelayedTransportStart();
 
     console.log("Preparing playback");
 
@@ -440,8 +445,18 @@ export class KGAudioInterface {
         console.log("Loop mode disabled");
       }
 
+      if (startPosition < 0) {
+        this.delayedTransportStartMs = Math.abs(startPosition) * secondsPerBeat * 1000;
+        this.virtualPrerollStartBeat = startPosition;
+        this.virtualPrerollStartTimeMs = null;
+      } else {
+        this.delayedTransportStartMs = 0;
+        this.virtualPrerollStartBeat = null;
+        this.virtualPrerollStartTimeMs = null;
+      }
+
       // Set transport position (convert beats to Tone.js format)
-      this.setTransportPosition(startPosition);
+      this.setTransportPosition(Math.max(0, startPosition));
 
       // Start metronome if enabled
       if (this.isMetronomeEnabled) {
@@ -646,8 +661,19 @@ export class KGAudioInterface {
       if (!this.isAudioContextStarted) {
         throw new Error('Audio context not started');
       }
-      
-      Tone.Transport.start();
+
+      if (this.delayedTransportStartMs > 0 && this.virtualPrerollStartBeat !== null) {
+        this.virtualPrerollStartTimeMs = performance.now();
+        this.delayedTransportStartTimeoutId = window.setTimeout(() => {
+          this.delayedTransportStartTimeoutId = null;
+          this.virtualPrerollStartBeat = null;
+          this.virtualPrerollStartTimeMs = null;
+          Tone.Transport.start();
+        }, this.delayedTransportStartMs);
+      } else {
+        Tone.Transport.start();
+      }
+
       this.isPlaying = true;
       
       console.log('Audio playback started');
@@ -662,6 +688,7 @@ export class KGAudioInterface {
    */
   public stopPlayback(): void {
     try {
+      this.clearDelayedTransportStart();
       Tone.Transport.stop();
       this.metronome.stop();
 
@@ -789,7 +816,8 @@ export class KGAudioInterface {
   public setTransportPosition(position: number): void {
     try {
       // Convert beats to Tone.js time format
-      const toneTime = this.beatsToToneTime(position);
+      const safePosition = Math.max(0, position);
+      const toneTime = this.beatsToToneTime(safePosition);
       Tone.Transport.position = toneTime;
       console.log(`Set transport position to ${position} beats (${toneTime})`);
     } catch (error) {
@@ -802,6 +830,14 @@ export class KGAudioInterface {
    */
   public getTransportPosition(): number {
     try {
+      if (this.virtualPrerollStartBeat !== null && this.virtualPrerollStartTimeMs !== null) {
+        const project = KGCore.instance().getCurrentProject();
+        const secondsPerBeat = 60 / project.getBpm();
+        const elapsedSeconds = (performance.now() - this.virtualPrerollStartTimeMs) / 1000;
+        const elapsedBeats = elapsedSeconds / secondsPerBeat;
+        return Math.min(0, this.virtualPrerollStartBeat + elapsedBeats);
+      }
+
       const position = Tone.Transport.position;
       return this.toneTimeToBeats(position);
     } catch (error) {
@@ -973,6 +1009,17 @@ export class KGAudioInterface {
     return this.captureStream;
   }
 
+  private clearDelayedTransportStart(): void {
+    if (this.delayedTransportStartTimeoutId !== null) {
+      window.clearTimeout(this.delayedTransportStartTimeoutId);
+      this.delayedTransportStartTimeoutId = null;
+    }
+
+    this.delayedTransportStartMs = 0;
+    this.virtualPrerollStartBeat = null;
+    this.virtualPrerollStartTimeMs = null;
+  }
+
   // ===== PRIVATE UTILITY METHODS =====
 
   /**
diff --git a/src/core/audio-interface/KGMetronome.test.ts b/src/core/audio-interface/KGMetronome.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4369c9e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/audio-interface/KGMetronome.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { MockLoop, MockTransport, ToneMock } from '../../test/mocks/tone'
+
+vi.mock('tone', async () => {
+  const { ToneMock: toneMock } = await import('../../test/mocks/tone')
+  return toneMock
+})
+
+import { KGMetronome } from './KGMetronome'
+
+describe('KGMetronome', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers()
+    vi.clearAllMocks()
+    MockTransport.bpm.value = 120
+    MockTransport.getTicksAtTime.mockImplementation((time: number) => time * MockTransport.PPQ)
+    vi.mocked(ToneMock.now).mockReturnValue(42)
+  })
+
+  it('schedules audible preroll clicks before beat 0 and keeps the beat 0 accent', () => {
+    const metronome = new KGMetronome()
+    const triggerAttackRelease = vi.fn()
+    ;(metronome as unknown as { sampler: unknown }).sampler = {
+      loaded: true,
+      triggerAttackRelease,
+    }
+
+    metronome.start(-4, 4, 0.2)
+
+    vi.advanceTimersByTime(200)
+    expect(triggerAttackRelease).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(1, 'C5', '16n', 42)
+
+    vi.advanceTimersByTime(1000)
+    expect(triggerAttackRelease).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(2, 'C4', '16n', 42)
+
+    const transportLoop = MockLoop.mock.results[0]?.value
+    expect(transportLoop).toBeDefined()
+
+    transportLoop.callback(0)
+    expect(triggerAttackRelease).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith('C5', '16n', 0.2)
+  })
+
+  it('cancels pending preroll clicks when stopped', () => {
+    const metronome = new KGMetronome()
+    const triggerAttackRelease = vi.fn()
+    ;(metronome as unknown as { sampler: unknown }).sampler = {
+      loaded: true,
+      triggerAttackRelease,
+    }
+
+    metronome.start(-2, 4, 0.2)
+    metronome.stop()
+    vi.runAllTimers()
+
+    expect(triggerAttackRelease).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/core/audio-interface/KGMetronome.ts b/src/core/audio-interface/KGMetronome.ts
index f8025af..2bce458 100644
--- a/src/core/audio-interface/KGMetronome.ts
+++ b/src/core/audio-interface/KGMetronome.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { KGToneSamplerFactory } from './KGToneSamplerFactory';
 export class KGMetronome {
   private loop: Tone.Loop | null = null;
   private sampler: Tone.Sampler | null = null;
+  private prerollTimeoutIds: number[] = [];
 
   /**
    * Load the woodblock sampler. Called once from KGAudioInterface.initialize() —
@@ -34,6 +35,8 @@ export class KGMetronome {
 
     const ppq = Tone.Transport.PPQ;
 
+    this.schedulePrerollClicks(startPositionBeats, beatsPerBar, playbackDelay);
+
     this.loop = new Tone.Loop((time) => {
       if (this.sampler?.loaded) {
         // Derive bar position from the exact Transport tick count at the
@@ -52,6 +55,9 @@ export class KGMetronome {
 
   /** Stop and dispose the loop only — sampler is kept alive for reuse. */
   stop(): void {
+    this.prerollTimeoutIds.forEach(timeoutId => window.clearTimeout(timeoutId));
+    this.prerollTimeoutIds = [];
+
     if (this.loop) {
       this.loop.dispose();
       this.loop = null;
@@ -65,4 +71,24 @@ export class KGMetronome {
       this.sampler = null;
     }
   }
+
+  private schedulePrerollClicks(startPositionBeats: number, beatsPerBar: number, playbackDelay: number): void {
+    if (startPositionBeats >= 0 || !this.sampler?.loaded) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const secondsPerBeat = 60 / Tone.Transport.bpm.value;
+    const firstBeat = Math.ceil(startPositionBeats);
+
+    for (let beat = firstBeat; beat < 0; beat += 1) {
+      const waitMs = Math.max(0, ((beat - startPositionBeats) * secondsPerBeat + playbackDelay) * 1000);
+      const note = beat % beatsPerBar === 0 ? 'C5' : 'C4';
+      const timeoutId = window.setTimeout(() => {
+        if (this.sampler?.loaded) {
+          this.sampler.triggerAttackRelease(note, '16n', Tone.now());
+        }
+      }, waitMs);
+      this.prerollTimeoutIds.push(timeoutId);
+    }
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/test/mocks/tone.ts b/src/test/mocks/tone.ts
index b0f3fb4..38bca09 100644
--- a/src/test/mocks/tone.ts
+++ b/src/test/mocks/tone.ts
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ export const MockTransport = {
   start: vi.fn(),
   stop: vi.fn(),
   pause: vi.fn(),
-  position: '0:0:0',
+  position: 0,
   bpm: {
     value: 120,
     rampTo: vi.fn()
@@ -34,10 +34,23 @@ export const MockTransport = {
   state: 'stopped',
   scheduleOnce: vi.fn(),
   scheduleRepeat: vi.fn(),
+  schedule: vi.fn().mockReturnValue(1),
   cancel: vi.fn(),
   clear: vi.fn()
+  ,
+  setLoopPoints: vi.fn(),
+  loop: false,
+  PPQ: 192,
+  getTicksAtTime: vi.fn().mockImplementation((time: number) => time * 192)
 }
 
+export const MockLoop = vi.fn().mockImplementation((callback: (time: number) => void, interval: string) => ({
+  callback,
+  interval,
+  start: vi.fn(),
+  dispose: vi.fn()
+}))
+
 // Mock Destination
 export const MockDestination = {
   volume: {
@@ -81,6 +94,7 @@ export const MockMeter = vi.fn().mockImplementation(() => ({
 // Complete Tone.js mock
 export const ToneMock = {
   Sampler: MockSampler,
+  Loop: MockLoop,
   Transport: MockTransport,
   Destination: MockDestination,
   ToneAudioBuffer: MockToneAudioBuffer,
@@ -106,10 +120,11 @@ export const ToneMock = {
   Frequency: vi.fn().mockImplementation((freq) => ({
     toFrequency: vi.fn().mockReturnValue(parseFloat(freq) || 440),
     valueOf: vi.fn().mockReturnValue(parseFloat(freq) || 440)
-  }))
+  })),
+  now: vi.fn().mockReturnValue(0)
 }
 
 // Setup the global mock
 export const setupToneMocks = () => {
   vi.doMock('tone', () => ToneMock)
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}