pros and cons of using a metronome

[niteblade]

hey i just got a metronome from a friend to work on my rhythm

anyone else who uses?

is it okay if i just practise with a basic 1 2 3 4 beat

or i should experiment with 1 22 3 44 beats and others

would it affect my long term playing? ( in a good or bad way )

 

[Crawldaddy]

Hmm.

Using a metronome can only help you get better because it makes your playing more consistent rather than just using your "internal metronome" i.e tapping your foot to stay in the beat.

However, with regards to which beat to use... it depends on what kind of rhythm you are after, which song / genre appeals to you most. I would recommend you work around with various types of rhythms in order for you to be ale to adapt to different songs / genres.

 

[lppier]

Another alternative is to play along with drum loops where you can vary the tempo. I agree that there is no harm to playing to a metronome. A rock-solid rhythm sense is most desirable in a guitar player for me.

 

[AzNjT]

haiyo, just record a pulse beat some where, loop that Sh*t.

~Viola. your own metronome. simple

EDIT: oops, i just realized my post is out of point, sorry

 

[niteblade]

haha i have this bad habit of playing faster when nervous. esp when playing solos live. then my drummer has to speed up for me. which is bad since the spotlight is on me!

haha i guess punk/rock/pop stuff for me

recommendations for the type of beats i should go for?

 

[tany]

just the 1 2 3 4 would do. then ur forced to train ur subdivisions well and learn how to count

 

[lppier]

Yep, can start with the 1-2-3-4. You must know exactly what you are playing on which beat. Down-up-Down-up-Down-up-Down-up for 1-2-3-4
then work to Down-up-Down-up-Down-up-Down-up-Down-up-Down-up-Down-up-Down-up for 1-2-3-4.
Sub-divisions, as tany said..

 

[niteblade]

ooh how would i set my tempo then?

example 80 for updown updown updown updown (1) updown updown updown updown (2)updown updown updown updown (3) updown updown updown updown (4)

or 160 for updown updown (1) updown updown (2) updown updown (3) updown updown (4)

ah i dunno how to explain. you get the drift?

 

[lppier]

Try thinking with down for every one beat for starters. Up is then the half beat after the one beat.
It doesn't matter what tempo you set it at though. But for example you set 80,

the metronome goes

1 2 3 4
TICK - tick - tick - tick
1) d - d - d - d
2) d-u -d-u -d-u -d-u
3) d-u-d-u -d-u-d-u -d-u-d-u -d-u-d-u

You can try 1,2 and 3.
For starters, to get your sense of timing right in 4/4.

If you put it at 160 , think of it as you are just hearing the subdivision between the 1, 2, 3 and 4 (so now you can hear the "ticks" in between the ticks! Haha.. hope i didn't confuse u.

 

[crozzfire]

hmmm, i don't see any disadvantages with using a metronome.. it helps your playing to be more consistent.

 

[tany]

try this:

1 n 2 n 3 n 4 n <-- quaver beats 8th notes
1 e n a 2 e n a 3 e n a 4 e n a <-- semiquaver beats 16th notes
1 n a 2 n a 3 n a 4 n a <-- triplets 12th notes

so ur metronome should coincide with every 1 2 3 4 beeps.

 

[niteblade]

wow lppier! you hit the nail on the head!

you explained exactly what i was asking about and made it look simple!

+1 to you!

so i should start off going up down up down up down first before i try the more complicated stuff huh

im more of a electric guitar player

i see all the guitarists at my church do all the complicated strumming with the acoustic guitar which i have big difficultly adapting to

and no they're not very good at guitar, they only know how to play simple chords, not even barre chords

haha anyway back to the topic.

so i guess my fears of becoming over relient on a metronome is unfounded ey. a metronome will only improve my timing

 

[ShredCow]

A metronome wouldn't hurt... but just keep this in the back of your head...

Its nice to "lay back" on the best sometimes.

But that "technique" comes about later.

 

[lppier]

Keep at the "down-up" thing, it'll help you to "unlock" all the strumming patterns you hear on the radio, strumming patterns are just a matter of ommitting some ups or downs basically.

 

[niteblade]

haha yes got it :lol:

another burning question. do i practise that for strumming or picking or both?

 

[tany]

both man.

 

[niteblade]

mmmhm so i should faithfully stick to alternate pickings for my solos?

 

[symym]

Keep practicing with alternate picking. Its a good habit to have.

 

[symym]

But of course, sometimes u need a different tone or 'power' on certain notes, so just apply the down stroke when needed. But when practicing, try sticking to alternate picking especially on picking exercises.

 

[amocrass2]

Using Metronome is a must for musicians!

For timing & speed! :wink: