Metronome recomendations? and keeping in tempo question.

[Hellhog]

(not really sure where this belonged)

I currently have a Boss TU-80 Tuner/Metronome, I love the tuner and the metronome is nice, however I can't hear the metronome when doing normal playing, and unfortunately there is no way to make it louder or line out the clicks.

I do have a Boss ME-20B multi-effects processor that I am using as my headphone amp when at school. However, it doesn't get very loud through my headphones.

I was looking at some other tuners/metronomes such as the Boss DB-30 (the headphone out and hipclip intrigue me, however reviews claim it fails a lot after 3 months) or Boss TU-88 (its basically a TU-80 with a tempo tap in, headphone out, aux input, and headphone amp). Any recomendations or personal experience with these metronomes or any others that you think I should look at?


Also, any tips for faster songs and knowing if you are in tempo. I've read to start slow but I still get confused. For example, I've been practicing Map of the Problematique by Muse. I can do everything in that song, (pick the intro), (fingerstyle the 8th notes), however when I get to the 16th notes, pick or fingerstyle (my picking skill for alternating strokes is non-existant), I cannot figure out a way to know if I am playing too fast (highly unlikely) or too slow. I count 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & in my head (and often tap my foot and headbang [yes like Chris] to the quarter notes) and have no problem at 125bpm. But add in e & a and I can't even keep in tempo to the quarter notes, it confuses the heck out of me. I can even do the 8th notes with one finger but the second I alternate trying to add the 16th notes, it becomes a free for all. Please help. Mostly I'm thinking that I am expecting too much too quickly since I've only been practicing for barely a couple months.

Thanks!

[Skitch it!]

I'd think about a small drum machine instead for a better vibe to play along with, it feels a little more natural. I don't know what's on the market, a few things I would imagine, but having an audible kick and snare is nice for feel and flow.

As for the Muse track, I'd learn it with the pick properly and learn to alternate with it, it's quite quick for fingers, it is do-able but Chris chose the pick for a reason, even though he has a great right hand (Hysteria etc).

For the 16ths, I'd be using the 1st and 3rd beats of the bar as a reference and playing 8x16ths between them rather than referencing every beat, it would flow better that way for me and wouldn't seem quite so hectic?

It's quite a quick line, slow it down a few notches and get to feel the flow, then speed it up gradually, I would though, play this with a pick, my 2 cents ; )

[Buzzgary]

Hellhog, this will always be loud enough

Viziklik Metronome

[Luff]

Just thought I'd mention that if you have an iPod touch or something similar, you don't need to buy a standalone metronome. I've got several drum machines, metronomes, polyrhythmic metronomes, tabla machines etc. on mine and just hook it up to the stereo.