Metronomes

[Little Pigbacon]

I’d like to hear from anyone who’s spent much time practicing with a metronome. What do you use? Which features in a metronome — and what approaches in using them — have worked for you? Which ones didn’t?

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[Chistopher]

Re: Metronomes

I recently upgraded my metronome:



It only cost $1500 and the metronome itself paid for it.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Metronomes

Was the metronome a valuable antique?

Note: A metronome, for my purposes, is something that can play itself while you play a guitar.

 

[PS412]

Re: Metronomes

I don't practice with one but growing up my mom had this black one. I assume it was ebony, stained and gloss. I was absolutely fascinated by it.
Sorry useless info, but you got me memberin.

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Metronomes

mac OS menu bar extension called quicknome. was free, is unobtrusive (only ever small space in menu bar next to clock), click and drag to change bpm or set it manually.
some metronomes have a thing for changing what beat is accented. That can be helpful but mostly I just need something that clicks in time.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Metronomes

I use an old Seiko one with a simulated woodblock sound. If you put it under your leg when practicing, you can't hear it, but you can feel the vibration of the speaker. It works really well. I hate metronomes that beep, though.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Metronomes

I use a drum loop on my Digitech
Tap tempo.and such bout two dozen different styles

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Metronomes

Drum machine.

You can usually find a used Alesis SR-16 for less than a C-note, and have way more fun. It's a great tool for creativity.

Bill

 

[dave74]

Re: Metronomes

Drum machine, unless I want to play unplugged and seated for whatever reason,,,,,,then it's the free metronome online a.bestmetronome.com..
I have an older Boss 660 and an Akai xr20. The kick and snare are better on the Akai IMO, but the toms on the Boss are just in a whole other league.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Metronomes

From my Pre-Guitar Days, my first two pieces of electronics for music were:

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Metronomes

I use the Pro metronome app. Works like any other metronome but has a timer. So you can work on a particular exercise for a set length of time. It has several different sounds to choose from as well. It’s free and has a paid upgrade for cheap (iirc, $4.99).

The problem with using a drum machine as a metronome is that it subdivides time for you. That pretty much defeats the purpose.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Metronomes

Feeling nostalgic for these... I might pull a LPB since they go for nothing on Reverb.

 

[Ben1962]

Re: Metronomes

"The problem with using a drum machine as a metronome is that it subdivides time for you. That pretty much defeats the purpose."
How does that defeat its purpose? The drum sets the tempo, from there its up to you to divide however you want? You fit triplets, 16ths, whatever you want in each little "pocket". I use my metronome alot, I play one note per click to work on my speed. I love the drum tracks on youtube, theres plenty to chose from and they're free.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Metronomes

Feeling nostalgic for these... I might pull a LPB since they go for nothing on Reverb.

Which ones?

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Metronomes

The Dr. Beat and Korg Tuner.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Metronomes

"The problem with using a drum machine as a metronome is that it subdivides time for you. That pretty much defeats the purpose."
How does that defeat its purpose? The drum sets the tempo, from there its up to you to divide however you want? You fit triplets, 16ths, whatever you want in each little "pocket". I use my metronome alot, I play one note per click to work on my speed. I love the drum tracks on youtube, theres plenty to chose from and they're free.

Not true. If the drums are playing an 8th note groove on the high hat, and you are practicing playing scales in 8th notes you’re not learning how to properly internalize the 8th note feel when the drums are providing the subdivision for you.

Try this experiment.
Set the metronome to 120bpm and play quarter notes. That means 1 beat per click....pretty easy right?
Now set it to 60bpm and play 16th notes. 4 beats per click.
It’s more difficult because the machine isn’t subdividing for you....you have to “feel” the subdivision. The actual speed you’re playing will be exactly the same, but there’s a different feel.
I’m sure after a few repitions you’ll have no problem staying in time but I’ll bet that the first few times you’re not right on the beat. It will take a couple of attempts to internalize it.

The example I just gave above is simple...probably overly simple.
Take that same concept and apply it to a more complicated funk groove and you’ll see how hard it is.
All that said, do it however you want. There is value in whatever works for you. But I feel you’re shortchanging yourself if you rely on somebody/something else to count the subdivisions for you.

 

[JimmyO]

Re: Metronomes

I use a Boss DB-30. When a started playing years ago I didn't use a metronome and just played along to my favorite tunes. I'd never been happy with my playing technique, felt my leads were a bit sloppy and rhythm playing not so tight. After I started practicing with the metronome I was able to learn passages slowly and accurately and then speed up gradually to the desired speed. It seems simple but I was not smart enough to figure this out for while. Have been experiencing a nice improvement in my playing with a $30 metronome investment. Starting to figure out that the greatest impact to my playing are the simpler things like metronome, picks, guitar setup and pickup height etc. Probably should have invested in the metronome before the last amplifier I bought, as it provided excellent amplification of my less than perfect technique.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Metronomes

The most important job of any amplifier is to take terrible playing and make it louder.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Metronomes

I am not a fan of using drum sounds or even subdivisions on a metronome, but hey, if it helps, and you learn to play those things, then, awesome. I don't like the beeping-style metronomes, and the wooden 'tick tock' ones tend to get slower and lose accuracy as they age.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Metronomes

It needs all the increments. (for example I had a Korg once that jumped from 120 to 180 or something and I needed the tempos in between. Useless to me.)

I use separate metronomes for practice and use a software click for recording. They need to be accurate so what I practice and develop muscle-memory on matches the tracks I'm overlaying.

I also prefer one that starts immediately when I hit it, as opposed to resuming somewhere in between the beats where I left off, or some awkward delay while it electronically detects that someone is actually trying to use it and decides to begin operation, stuttering in late like a drunk/fried drummer. I could just start a band if I wanted that effect.

Needs a choice of sounds also, for accuracy and to avoid abrasive/harsh sounds, and sounds that bleed out of headphones onto mics.