Metronome in practise

[Billy]

Recently started using a metronome to try help out with my timings, my thoughts here is if my timing is better then dud notes are fewer and my groove is more.
Thing is i am not sure if i am using it correctly or not, Any hints, tips or advice from other metronome users would be a great help.

Billy

..Billy..

[charjo]

@Billy M, the obvious first point is start slowly. The metronome should reveal what phrase you are having difficulty with and then you can concentrate on that phrase (maybe via looping in the video tab) until it is as smooth as the rest. Gradually build the speed you can play smoothly at. Ideally, build up to a speed faster than the tempo you wish to record at and then playing at tempo should feel easy. If your metronome can emphasize beat 1, it can help with your timing. The metronome can bring some real discipline to your practice, probably why everybody hates them so much.
John

[Billy]

Thanks John, starting at 60bpm is where I am at right now. I did notice during lastnights practise that the notes played were ringing out and sounding clearer, is this just because i an now playing each note at the same speed any the notes have a chance to sustain?, or am i just imagining this and i am really listening to the sounds i am making more?.

..Billy..

[sunjamr]

I use adjustable speed drum tracks on my iPad, which is the same as using a metronome. The wisdom I got from reading online tips by highly skilled guitarists is to start of with a super slow beat when you’re just learning something. Then when you’ve learned it pretty well, crank up the speed. Then every so often, crank up the speed to the point where you are making a lot of mistakes. Then drop back down to super slow and play it perfectly. It works for me.

Sunjamr Steve

[Billy]

That sounds quite interesting Steve, couple of instruction youtubes i have watched suggest playing the piece untill you can play it 4 times perfectly and then turn the bpm up and then start again.

..Billy..

[bri-uklefty]

Hi Billy,
I started dedicating on practice per week to play with metronome whether; scales, arpeggio, patterns, strum/rest, note location on fretboard etc.
As others say it’s really about building up from the beginning and progress in small steps. The one major advice I learned from a friend was to buy a traditional Wittner metronome with ‘beat bell’ for 2,3,4,6. This allows visual notice of where I am and also the discipline of hearing the required beat on the chosen 3rd, 4th etc. beat.
There are a beast but man they make you ‘walk the walk’….well eventually LOL!
Attached youtube link to check out.

Cheers Bri

[Billy]

Thanks Bri, i will check that out when in a pc and not on my phone, The motronome i am using is a part of my tuner..

..Billy..

[bri-uklefty]

I do also have a download on my phone and is very convenient but I easily ignore and play over it because the ‘bell’ and beats become background and don’t off that visual knowing of where I am on the beat, if that makes sense?
Also the traditional one is a nice piece of furniture that I’m allowed to keep on window sill LOL; even when I have to put guitars away.
As John mentioned they are a discipline and become like a drill sergeant as it needs to domineer you and force compliance, just a good wife!
Cheers Bri

[Billy]

Hi Billy,

<span class=”embed-youtube” style=”text-align:center; display: block;”>[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tm5tcIBfxoY?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent&w=640&h=390%5D</span&gt;

I finally got round to checking this out, thanks for that Bri.
It is a mine field out there with metronomes and while I like the one you have highlighted I think I will have a look for something a bit antique, there is something about old bits of used musical stuff which tell a story, this is more so than with modern plastic put the batteries in the back type stuff… hahahaha
Oh BTW, who would have thought that counting in, tapping a foot and playing to 1,2,3,-1,2,3, would be so difficult!.. Anyway, it is 18.00 here so that makes it time for my hours practise.

..Billy..

[Don D.]

When I was experimenting with the metronome I think I read some advice to cut back to using it to mark the second and fourth beats–but it could be the other two.

You can also use backing tracks. I prefer them over metronomes, which don’t hold my attention because they’re harder to hear.

Here’s one of my favorite resources, Quist Jams and Jellies…
https://www.youtube.com/user/QuistTV

…and the ever-useful Free Drum Tracks.
https://www.youtube.com/user/FreeDrumTracks

Don D.

[Billy]

Thanks Don. I’ll check those links out once i am back home and on my pc..

..Billy..

[Duffy P]

Best old fashioned electric metronome is a Franz, which you can still find on eBay. It is as simple as it can be and will last forever. I don’t like the pendulum mechanical type. They are not very reliable. Right now I just use a free app on my phone, but I don’t use it that often, mostly when I am consciously trying to get something up to a particular speed.

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