Got a Metronome...now what??

HosMan · #1 08-01-2010, 02:57 AM

I came across a little Wittner Taktell Prelude mechanical metronome in a consignment store today and paid the $5.00 asking price...now what? This little guy works perfectly(as far as I can tell) but is the model without the bell (840/850?). I`m trying to find some type of instruction/documentation for this clicker online but the Mfg.website doesn`t offer much. My main reason for buying this "old school" `nome was to add a new tool to my bass practice/learning sessions(and something moving and clicking is kind of cool).Too easy to ignore and/or sluff off with my digital metronome freeware app.

My metronome is the Wittner Model 840 w/out bell.Here`s a pic.

http://www.soundsmusical.com/product.asp?productid=7836

Any hints,tips or advice here?

HosMan

ridgeback · #2 08-01-2010, 03:52 AM

what are you asking mate????how to use it?or what do you need it for?

what i use it for(more piano as i still practice it more) i just play scales up and down.one note per clic or one every second clic and anything in between..

HosMan · #3 08-01-2010, 04:08 AM

Oh behave,Ridge! *Austin Powers voice*

I`m cool with how to use it and what I need it for;just fishing for that morsel of sage advice from my fellow TBers. Timing,following/keeping the beat and improving my sense of rhythm are what I`m after here.

What`s generally considered a good bpm tempo for us newbies?What`s the average,or most common bpm tempo one comes across in today`s various genres and styles of music?

Thanks,

HosMan

**john turner** · #4 08-01-2010, 04:28 AM

a few interesting exercises to try, once you've gotten used to playing to it with every click being on the beat :

try setting the metronome on a very slow setting, and having it actually clicking only the 2 and 4 of a measure, or the 1 and 3. when you get pretty good with that, try slowing it even further to have it click out just a single beat of the measure. practice your timing so that you always line up with the 'nome and that your playing stays smooth and consistent in the space between the clicks.

something else. given that a beat is subdivided "1-e-and-a, 2-e-and-a, etc." another thing to try is have the click be a different part of the beat than just the downbeat. the easy one for this is having it be the "and" of the beat (upbeat), and then try counting it as the "e" or the "a".

you could also have the click set as a triplet, and you could then try to play straight 8's over it (you'd get a 3 -over- 4 patterng going with the click). this is pretty tricky.

one of the best things, imo, the 'nome can do is train your ear for how certain tempos sound. when you get good with it, you'll get to the point where you can tell the speed of a song you here within a few bpm just by listening to it, and, more importantly, you'll be able to tell just by listening when stuff slows down or speeds up, which may or may not be intentional/desireable.

HosMan · #5 08-01-2010, 04:38 AM

Thank you,John. I`m not sure exactly what this `nome will do as the only adjustment/setting is the actual pendulem weight that you slide up or down to control the bpm speed. The face of the `nome indicates an operational range of 40-208bpm. Unfortunately this model is sans bell.

Thanks again,
HosMan

ridgeback · #6 08-01-2010, 04:46 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X1fhVLVF_4
is this what your looking for hosman?

HosMan · #7 08-01-2010, 04:50 AM

Yes!! Excellent,ridge! Thanks for the link,bro.

...Victor makes it look easy doesn`t he?

HosMan

ridgeback · #8 08-01-2010, 04:55 AM

no problem thats why we are here mate.., vic does explain things quite well and use good examples that are easy to understand..

**john turner** · #9 08-01-2010, 05:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HosMan

Thank you,John. I`m not sure exactly what this `nome will do as the only adjustment/setting is the actual pendulem weight that you slide up or down to control the bpm speed. The face of the `nome indicates an operational range of 40-208bpm. Unfortunately this model is sans bell.

Thanks again,
HosMan

the nome is fine. it's all in how you perceive what the click is. the is just making a consistent click at a particular speed. the actual count of this click can be what you need it to be. a click can be perceived to be counting out triplets and then played to in that manner. the point is to educate your ear about the subdivisions of the beat and how they sound, as well as how to play to them without relying on external cues.

and yeah, that wooten clip is a great nome primer.

HosMan · #10 08-01-2010, 05:07 AM

What I love and respect about Victor is that despite his ungodly mastery of the bass guitar---he is always,always down to earth and humble. You`ll never hear V.W. bragging or showing off. The man has a genuine love and admiration for that grand pantheon of Bass Gods (to which he also belongs!) and displays reverance towards all those pioneers of the bass.

Thanks again for the link,Ridge.
HosMan

Jon_West · #11 08-01-2010, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HosMan

What I love and respect about Victor is that despite his ungodly mastery of the bass guitar---he is always,always down to earth and humble. You`ll never hear V.W. bragging or showing off. The man has a genuine love and admiration for that grand pantheon of Bass Gods (to which he also belongs!) and displays reverance towards all those pioneers of the bass.

+1000