Metronome-when, where, how best to use?

[trader56]

Those of you who've had to tolerate me this past couple of weeks may know that I'm returning to playing after literally decades off. As I read, I see recommendations for practicing with a metronome.

 

I'd very much like the opinions of the experts here!

Should the metronmoe be used always?

Only necessary when practicing scales?

Use only after the scale/riff/piece is learned well?

How do YOU use it?

 

Any coaching on this is, as always, really appreciated!

 

Thanks once again, Guys!

 

Dave

[Hardtail]

I'd very much like the opinions of the experts here!

Should the metronmoe be used always?

Only necessary when practicing scales?

Use only after the scale/riff/piece is learned well?

How do YOU use it?

 

Until the experts reply, I'll tell you what I do with it.

 

Should it be used always? No. Sometimes it's good to test your internal sense of rhythm by doing the old-fashioned foot tapping thing.

 

I do use it to practice scales and arpeggios. I'm going for speed, good picking, and good muting techniques while I play these.

 

I also use it for rhythm practice. A drum machine is probably better for this but they're a bit pricey for me.

 

I don't use the metronome AFTER a riff/piece is learned; I use it DURING. When I'm learning a new tune on the guitar and I can't play it up to speed without making mistakes, I'll isolate that part, playing slowly with a metronome. When I can play it at a certain speed, I'll increase the speed of the metronome... play again... repeat.. until I can play the part perfectly at speed (I may even go a little faster than the song speed).

 

The metronome is a good tool for me for the things I mentioned above. I always have it by my side and probably use it during 50% of my practice time.

[trader56]

Thanks, Hardtail!

[Phil W]

I use it for making sure I practise at different tempos. I also use it for specific tempo and timing training with and without the bass. I usually set the clicks as the 2 and 4 and practise against that but I also practise with the 'nome at slow tempo imagining the clicks as one then first sixteenth beat after one; then second sixteenth beat after one etc until I've gone through the cycle. This can help build up your internal clock. I sometimes use the bass, sometimes verbalise or band something.

 

Having said that I mostly practise without it but I use it specifically about 1/10 of the time - not often on scales 0 usually when working on exercises as above or playing melodies I am learning.

 

[Dr. Ellwood]

I very seldom use the nome for guitar, I play with a band so much that I have the drummer always there, howerver I DO use it when playing piano! almost all the time, especially on a new piece.

[Billster]

I usually set the clicks as the 2 and 4 and practise against that...

 

That's how to get a sense of groove. Following the metronome at 1-2-3-4 is good for getting rock solid timing on scales and arpeggio practice, but will be too mechanical for playing actual tunes. For tunes, go with the click on 2 & 4

[fantasticsound]

trader56, you haven't received any of these replies yet, but I'm guessing you're bound to get some from people who insist you must practice with a metronome to learn to play in time.

 

Me? I'm of the same mind as bassist, Jeff Berlin. I attended a clinic in which he railed against metronome use. The problem, in his opinion, is twofold. First, players worry too much about keeping time with the metronome and lose their place in the music. Especially those who are forced to use the metronome most; novices. Second, most of us have an innate sense of rhythm. Give someone a simple to intermediate beat and even non-musicians have little trouble reproducing it as foot stomps or hand claps. Learning rhythm does not require a metronome.

 

That said, I'm all for the use of a metronome as Hardtail and Phil W do. As a specific reference for playing at a particular speed or practice known scales/song parts gradually faster for speed, precision and accuracy.

 

What's more, Berlin suggests that most people would be happier with a drum machine as metronome anyway. It's more interesting to play along with (and you can always set it to a simple click) but can also be programmed for specific beats as you'd expect to hear a drummer play them. You can also program in a swing from the beat, more closely matching the non-perfection of a human drummer that makes drums sound different than a computer.

[Phil W]

Great posts.

I've played with too may musicians with bad time to counsel against their use but Neil is right that overreliance is a bad thing. The slight problem I have with practising witha drum machine is that it actually maes it a lot easier and you can become quite reliant. As long as you don't do it all the time, it's worthwhile though. If you can create a groove with a metronome that's a greater achievement than with programmed drums.

I'm a bass player and we're always banging on about the importance of playing in time and keeping tempos but it's not just for drummers and bassists and I know you guys agree that a great guiatrist, or horn player or singer is one who can phrase dead on or against the beat by choice and create a rhythmic momentum.

Good advice here everyone!

[Billster]

I'm a bass player and we're always banging on about the importance of playing in time and keeping tempos but it's not just for drummers and bassists and I know you guys agree that a great guiatrist, or horn player or singer is one who can phrase dead on or against the beat by choice and create a rhythmic momentum.

 

Oh yeah.

 

My entire musical style is built around playing off of the rhythmic foundation. But you can't play off the beat if you don't know where the beat is.

[fantasticsound]

Too true, Billster!

[Eric Iverson]

I use it to help me slow down on tricky passages or pieces, since I'm one of these perpetually wired people that always want to rush through everything. Or sometimes just playing the absolute simplest thing for a minute or two just to catch a groove!

 

Also I find it helpful in sight-reading material with tricky syncopations, just to break things down to simplicity. (I probably wouldn't have trouble with most of these things if I could HEAR them, such as playing along with a bandmate!)

 

Other than that, I don't use it much. If you're playing along with a CD, you already have the groove, which may not be strictly metronomic anyway!