Using a Metronome

Jaded · Post by **Jaded** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 1:48 pm

I don't own a metronome. I do have a keyboard with various rhythm options (which I also don't use).

How do you get yourself to use one? My timing is awful by serious standards (and not so serious...) I've been told again and again to use one, but the thing is such a distraction that I don't. (I have enough trouble staying focused on the notes, and if I miss a tick, I panic and spend more time reflecting on the shame of my inadequacies than on playing the piece of music. More than that, I'm not ever sure that I'm hearing ALL the ticks.)

I've tried laying down a ukulele back track that is simply a four strum or a three strum shifting back and forth between two chords, so I know if I'm keeping up, and am wondering if that combined with my MP3 player is a viable substitute for a metronome.

Can anyone advise me with regard to how to apply a keyboard as a metronome? (I am looking for some optimum settings. I've gotten as far as the basics.)

Thanks.

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 1:52 pm

There is no substitute for a metronome. That ukelele track certainly is not a substitute unless you recorded it using a metronome. I would suggest investing in one (they cost only a few dollars at most music stores), and getting accustomed to using it. They're a great tool, and should help you with your rhythmic/timing difficulties.

piccolo1991 · Post by **piccolo1991** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 2:19 pm

I often take students thru levels of metronome playing. Such as beginning with heavy accents to line up with the metronome, then feeling the accents more (either with foot or slight movement), to eventually just making it line up in your head...really listening. I feel that the physical sensation of accents and movement can help to get used to it...but this is NOT a long term solution...just a practice thing I find sometimes helps. Also, if you get a metronome and a stereo cable (basically, these have two ends just like headphone cables) you can usually hook a metronome up to your speakers (computer or stereo) so it will be louder. I find some of the cheaper metronomes have poor volume quality.

Claiken · Post by **Claiken** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 8:43 pm

I find i work best turning one on & getting the rhythm in my mind, internalizing it, then shutting it off. to play with it is too distracting.

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 8:53 pm

Claiken wrote:I find i work best turning one on & getting the rhythm in my mind, internalizing it, then shutting it off. to play with it is too distracting.

And yet, IMO, it's important if you're to develop a solid sense of time.

fluttiegurl · Post by **fluttiegurl** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 7:58 am

I agree. I literally had to force myself to use the metronome once I reached a certain point. It is very critical to have a good sense of timing, especially when working toward the audition that Claiken has talked about in other threads. That is the number one thing most judges look for, which related directly to rhythm.

When I teach young beginners, I will turn on thr metronome and gently tap their backs as they play the first few times we use it. It forces them to internalize what they hear. after a few times, it seems to be more natural to them. This has worked very well with some of my students who are now advanced high school players moving on to college, all of whom have exceptional rhythm and an amazing sense of timing.

Claiken · Post by **Claiken** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 2:02 pm

i find the actual beeping distracting. im ok if in lesson my teacher snaps or taps on a surface, but the actual sound of the metronome distracts me from playing so much! maybe its just me...

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 2:08 pm

Sounds to me like you might benefit from investing in a different metronome. There are many different models, and many different sounds available. Finding one that doesn't distract you should be totally possible, and would almost certainly benefit you greatly.

Skippy · Post by **Skippy** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 7:54 pm

I don't know if anyone would recommend this, but I've done it before and it's worked...cause i hate metronomes....

my brother is a drummer and when i was trying to get stuff in time, I'd get him to play a constant beat on his drums, obviously so i could still hear myself, it was quiet. It worked and it was different than just a tick....

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 8:07 pm

Skippy wrote:I don't know if anyone would recommend this, but I've done it before and it's worked...cause i hate metronomes....

my brother is a drummer and when i was trying to get stuff in time, I'd get him to play a constant beat on his drums, obviously so i could still hear myself, it was quiet. It worked and it was different than just a tick....

That's not really a substitute for a metronome, either. Drummers are human, and thus fallible...The best can keep a very steady beat, but it's almost certainly never exact, and the worst drummers can be literally all over the place when it comes to tempo. I couldn't say where your brother falls, but this is not something I would recommend. if you can keep time with a snare drum, you can keep time with a metronome...You just need to get used to using one.

Claiken · Post by **Claiken** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 10:37 pm

flutepicc06 wrote:
Skippy wrote:I don't know if anyone would recommend this, but I've done it before and it's worked...cause i hate metronomes....

my brother is a drummer and when i was trying to get stuff in time, I'd get him to play a constant beat on his drums, obviously so i could still hear myself, it was quiet. It worked and it was different than just a tick....
That's not really a substitute for a metronome, either. Drummers are human, and thus fallible...The best can keep a very steady beat, but it's almost certainly never exact, and the worst drummers can be literally all over the place when it comes to tempo. I couldn't say where your brother falls, but this is not something I would recommend. if you can keep time with a snare drum, you can keep time with a metronome...You just need to get used to using one.

couldnt metronomes lag behind too if the batteries are not dead but close to it(but the display isnt weak yet)?? im not sure, its an honest question! lol

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 11:00 pm

Claiken wrote:
flutepicc06 wrote:
Skippy wrote:I don't know if anyone would recommend this, but I've done it before and it's worked...cause i hate metronomes....

my brother is a drummer and when i was trying to get stuff in time, I'd get him to play a constant beat on his drums, obviously so i could still hear myself, it was quiet. It worked and it was different than just a tick....
That's not really a substitute for a metronome, either. Drummers are human, and thus fallible...The best can keep a very steady beat, but it's almost certainly never exact, and the worst drummers can be literally all over the place when it comes to tempo. I couldn't say where your brother falls, but this is not something I would recommend. if you can keep time with a snare drum, you can keep time with a metronome...You just need to get used to using one.
couldnt metronomes lag behind too if the batteries are not dead but close to it(but the display isnt weak yet)?? im not sure, its an honest question! lol

If they did, you'd know. You either have enough power left to make them run, or you don't. There's only a very short length of time that a situation like that could exist, and the "ritardando" it would be doing would be pretty noticeable. It's not comparable to a drummer who may speed/slow unpredictably. In any case, the VAST majority of the time, a metronome would be unquestionably more accurate than any such substitute you might come up with. There is just no replacing such a valuable tool.

Skippy · Post by **Skippy** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 12:51 am

I just don't think you are getting the point flutepicc06, or you aren't willing to open your mind, in my opinion.

I didn't say you could use a drummer all the time, but it does help when you can't stand a metronome. It also got me in time when I had to play anything for a particular reason, without having to hear that awful racket of a tick.

In my personal opinion, even though by the sounds of it, I have no idea what I'm talking about just because I'm not a professional (using the word lightly), until you can get used to the awful tick, which is extremely hard, try and find a substitute, but something that is close enough sounding to a metronome, for me, it's a snare drum. Once you have gotten used to the sound playing in background, try the metronome. The world is your oyster, use your creative side!

piccolo1991 · Post by **piccolo1991** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 8:30 am

Ok, I have noticed some metronomes without great time...usually the really cheap ones. One that I have as a backup metronome...Sabine Metrotune...often is not near as precise as my Dr Beat 88. But, even at that...I agree that it is still better then most drummers. I have met a few percussionist who are insane about staying on beat. I actually took a class in college with one who amazed me at how steady he was...and I love my metronome. I probably get slightly moody when I am out of a battery.

Now, Skippy, I do agree that Flutepicc06 can sometimes seem harsh and one sided...but, in truth I think he just knows his stuff really well. I have read many of his posts and often find his responses truthful. This issue, I hands down agree on. It comes down to this...how bad do you want it? Do you want ok time? Or do you want amazing time? If you just play for fun(which you said you do), you may be happy with ok time, without having the headache of a metronome. But, there are some people on here who use this forum for educational advice...who may be thinking about becoming a professional on the flute...for them, we don't want to steer them wrong. They need to use a metronome. I am a flute teacher, with some of my kids I know they just play for fun or are forced to...but I would hate for any of my serious students to come on here and see people saying that a metronome is not needed.

So, yes...some of us have done this all of our life for every day and hours a day. I love it so much I question how my life would be without it. It makes me, me. However, not everyone is that way. That is fine. I learn bass guitar right now. I do it just for fun. I would never try to say I know what are the proper techniques. It is just a hobby...and fun for that. Sorry if this came off harsh in any way. This needed to get out there though.

Jaded · Post by **Jaded** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 9:32 am

I think I'll start with a really slow setting. That should reduce the annoyance. If I'm not on the bitter edge of falling out of synch due to trying to play too fast for my abilities, maybe I can get more out of the metronome with less annoyance, and hope that time does the rest.

NOTE: With my el cheapo home model Yamaha keyboard I can use the "Style" setting of "Bluegrass", which is option 90 under the "style" settings, and adjust the tempo to whatever I want (under "Overall Control") and get an "up-down up-down" tick-tock tick-tock effect on my keyboard. Add a set of earbuds and a 1/4 " to 1/8" adapter, and your keyboard becomes a metronome (that "perfect drummer" referenced above).

(Playing with someone else or with a timing track produce with another instrument is also nice, even if it doesn't do as much for your sense of timing... If the track is even reasonably good in terms of timing, it will at least force you to begin to focus on timing, as opposed to using no timing reference at all, and thus potentially paying less attention to note durations that you should.)

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Using a Metronome

Using a Metronome

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