The Metronome
Bernie Woodham
"Is There Anybody Out There".
A simple arpeggiation over some basic chords.
I memorized the piece and then turned on the microphone in my laptop
to record it. It came out pretty clunky - not in time at all.
So, now I'm practicing it against a metronome. But while I was doing
this I got to wondering if I should have been using a metronome when I
first began memorizing it.
How do others here use the metronome? When you are first learning a
piece or after you've memorized your movements?
I know there's other aspects. You can be in time and still sound
really stilted. But I think you're going to have to keep in time
before you ever get to where you sound confident about what you're
playing.
castleb...@att.net
"Bernie Woodham" <birnh...@insightbb.com> wrote in message
news:f1a8abdf-3eda-4321...@l42g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
I use the metronome after I can play the notes, if not memorized, from the
notation or tab. Notes first, tempo second phrasing third.
Bob
Lumpy
> I use the metronome after I can play the notes, if not memorized,
> from the notation or tab. Notes first, tempo second phrasing third.
My order is tempo first, anything else second.
My theory - Listeners can tolerate a wrong note
played at the right time.
They can't tolerate a right note
played at the wrong time.
If the tempo is too fast to get much of
the notes "right", slow the tempo but keep it
in REGULAR rhythm.
Sacrifice anything for the regularity of tempo.
Lumpy
You Played on Lawrence Welk?
Yes but no blue notes. Just blue hairs.
Derek
classical guys.
All musos are, as Lumpy states, in agreement about playing in time.
Either do it, or you don't get called back.
Whether you practice along with a metronome, or some sort of backing
track, being able to play in time is essential.
Thing is, when you get on the bandstand, the time will NOT be
metronomical, unless the drummer has a click track in his ear.
Time will naturally move a bit, but hopefully everyone will follow
whomever is keeping time.
David L. Martel
I like to try to learn the notes first and then use the metronome to sort
out the places where I'm having problems. But I don't think this will help
you. You're trying to learn a piece that is all arpeggios. This is basically
a job for the "muscle memeory" of the right hand. Once your right hand has
the picking pattern down perhaps a metronome will help you to keep the beat
regular.
Dave M.
David L. Martel
We're just like horses on a trail ride. When we get close to the end we
start we rush.
Dave M.
Lumpy
Not just the end, but any place where we
are comfortable and familiar.
Precisely why concentrating on the rhythm
first seems more practical.
A "correct" note played at the wrong time
is no longer a correct note.
Lumpy
In Your Ears for 40 Years
www.LumpyMusic.com
BobF
Here's a copy of the metronome doc done by Lon Smith for the agb FAQ
some time ago. Pardon the formatting - it was originally done in HTML
Keeping time with metronomes/drum machines
Keeping time is a very important part of playing any instrument. As a
novice it is difficult to recognize when you are drifting faster or
slower. A common mistake of novices and seasoned players alike is to
get faster when increasing volume and slower when decreasing. Without a
metronome it is easy to “cheat” during that one lightning fast passage
by slowing down and then speeding back up for the easier part. The only
problem is your listener can tell. While tapping your foot is a must it
will only get you so far towards recognizing these problems. The
solution is……… the dreaded………the despised………the damned METRONOME! Don’t
worry you will not be the first, or the last person to hate your
metronome, but most teaching methods require their use. A metronome
does nothing but keep constant time. A drum machine is capable of doing
the same thing and some people find them easier to follow because of the
accented beats and closer simulation of realism. This section is only
referring to drum machines for this reason.
Metronomes and drum machines come in many different varieties. There
are advantages and disadvantages to each and you should find one that
meets your own needs. There are very inexpensive electronic models that
usually have set time intervals and a click, and a light that blinks in
time. Many have an earphone jack for quiet listening. The basic models
click one time for each beat. There are more advanced models on the
market that have a main click for the beat and ‘subclicks’ that
represent triplets, eighth notes 16th notes etc. There are many analog
metronomes still on the market. These are mostly wind up models with a
pendulum that moves visually back and forth and clicks at each end of
its swing. My experience is that less expensive ones become inaccurate
over time. This is too bad, because if you have the chance to try one
do. The fact that you see the pendulum approach the click beat makes
them much easier to follow than the electronic ones. You can also
download software metronomes from numerous sources. Drum machines offer
that ability to accent the beat and establish the ‘subclicks’ I
mentioned above. They can feel more natural and trick you into
resenting your time keeping less. They tend to be more expensive and
much more complex to program.
The reasons to use a metronome are:
Determine the speed of a song
Keep constant time during all phases of a song
Establish an accurate internal clock
Keep song speed consistent from one day to the next
Determine speed of your practice such as scales and track you progress
Aid in practicing scales and exercises
Determine the speed of a song
To use the metronome to keep time you must first determine the speed or
tempo of the music you wish to play. Tap your foot to the song, and set
the metronome so that the clicks are in time with your foot tapping.
Believe it or not, the clicks do not have to fall with your foot taps,
they merely need to be at the same speed and you will know be able to
tell. Listen for a short time and if the metronome is set right it will
neither catch up or lag the beat. Sometimes the metronome does not have
an exact setting. Now you get to use your personal preference. ‘A
little faster or a little slower.’
Keep constant time during all phases of a song
Once you have determined the speed you wish to play at, set the
metronome and turn it on. Make sure you keep the beat in your head. If
you drift stop and try again. Pay attention and it will come. No one
said playing music would be easy.
Establish an accurate internal clock
Use the metronome while increasing and decreasing volume. Make sure you
follow the clicks. Use it when playing a song that goes from widely
spaced notes to a fast section. This refers to the interval of the
notes not the speed of the beat. These are very common areas where even
seasoned guitar players need outside timing guidance. The more you use
a metronome and pay attention to what you are doing the better you will
develop you internal clock.
Keep song speed consistent from one day to the next
This should be self explanatory. Once you have established a speed, you
use the metronome set to that speed. After a while your internal clock
should kick in and the song will only sound “right” at or at least very
near the right speed. This can be important in a live situation. It is
rather embarrassing to get to your hot solo and realize that you started
the song at a tempo that is too fast for your fingers!
Determine speed of your practice such as scales and track you progress
You can and should use a metronome to track your progress. By keeping
track of the speed at which you strum or play a scale or riff, you will
know whether you are getting faster. Use the metronome and practice a
hard song part at a speed even faster than you will need too. This
helps to make you comfortable and sound less strained when playing at
the needed speed.
Aid in practicing scales and exercises
There are hundreds of ways you can use a metronome or drum machine to
accomplish this. Here are some suggestions. Do not let this limit you.
Experiment and find ways for yourself.
1. Set the speed where your pattern is very comfortable. Play the
pattern until it is perfect. Increase speed by two settings and play
again until perfect. Drop back one speed and repeat. Jump ahead two
speeds etc. This forces you to play faster and slower. Something often
overlooked.
2. Set the metronome fast. Try 150 BPM (beats per minute). Take a
pattern for this example use 5,6,7,8,5 on the E string. Play 5,5,5,5,5
with the first and last notes on the click and the others in between.
This is called 16th notes. Wait a click and then play 5,6,7,8,5. This
gets your right hand going.
Little Charlie
> Here's a copy of the metronome doc done by Lon Smith for the agb FAQ
> some time ago. Pardon the formatting - it was originally done in HTML
>
> Keeping time with metronomes/drum machines
>
> There are hundreds of ways you can use a metronome or drum machine to
> accomplish this. Here are some suggestions. Do not let this limit you.
> Experiment and find ways for yourself.
>
>
>
> 1. Set the speed where your pattern is very comfortable. Play the
> pattern until it is perfect. Increase speed by two settings and play
> again until perfect. Drop back one speed and repeat. Jump ahead two
> speeds etc. This forces you to play faster and slower. Something often
> overlooked.
>
> 2. Set the metronome fast. Try 150 BPM (beats per minute). Take a
> pattern for this example use 5,6,7,8,5 on the E string. Play 5,5,5,5,5
> with the first and last notes on the click and the others in between.
> This is called 16th notes. Wait a click and then play 5,6,7,8,5. This
> gets your right hand going.
>
>
>
Well anyway ....thanks!
--
Little Charlie
http://www.soundclick.com/LittleCharlie
"Destroy your EGO and your ART will flourish"
David Raleigh Arnold
> I've been working at what should be a pretty easy piece: Pink Floyd's
> "Is There Anybody Out There".
>
> A simple arpeggiation over some basic chords.
>
> I memorized the piece and then turned on the microphone in my laptop
> to record it. It came out pretty clunky - not in time at all.
>
> So, now I'm practicing it against a metronome. But while I was doing
> this I got to wondering if I should have been using a metronome when I
> first began memorizing it.
>
> How do others here use the metronome?
Consider the metronome a friend who never complains about your
playing. daveA
--
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"Dynamic Guitar Technique": http://www.openguitar.com/instruction.html
You can play the cards you're dealt, or improve your hand with DGT.
To email go to: http://www.openguitar.com/contact.html
Billy Pilgrim
"David Raleigh Arnold" <darn...@cox.net> wrote in message
news:YbWqk.2637$Is1....@newsfe04.iad...
> On Sun, 17 Aug 2008 21:31:10 -0700, Bernie Woodham wrote:
>
>> I've been working at what should be a pretty easy piece: Pink Floyd's
>> "Is There Anybody Out There".
>>
>> A simple arpeggiation over some basic chords.
>>
>> I memorized the piece and then turned on the microphone in my laptop
>> to record it. It came out pretty clunky - not in time at all.
>>
>> So, now I'm practicing it against a metronome. But while I was doing
>> this I got to wondering if I should have been using a metronome when I
>> first began memorizing it.
>>
>> How do others here use the metronome?
>
> Consider the metronome a friend who never complains about your
> playing. daveA
>
>
"Hey! Pick it up alittle!"
"Ah uhmmm!!...1 2 3, 1 2 3....!!"
Muso
Amen, brother! This is my point if view, also.