Metronome which one?

accutone · #1 12-15-2006, 12:48 PM

I am looking for a metronome for a gift. (I have a big wooden SethThomas electric one which is great, so I haven't bought one in a LONG time).
Any recommendations?

PaulCannon · #2 12-15-2006, 01:11 PM

Unless you want to plunk down a couple hundred dollars and get a Dr. Beat, most any metronome will be the same. Look for a good price, and maybe look for portability, as well.

Marc Piane · #3 12-15-2006, 01:37 PM

People will tell you to get one that does different time signatures and rhythmic subdivision.

I say you don't need all that. Buy the cheapest one you can. I prefer ones that click. Beeping drives me nuts. I try to train my students to subdivide in thier heads.

hdiddy · #4 12-15-2006, 02:00 PM

The bad thing about cheap metronomes is that there is no control over the volume. I hate how loud it can get, I like it where I can set it to be barely audible. Cheap ones suck for trying to practice quietly. Also, I prefer the ones that have a mechanical dial. I hate having reset the tempo every time I use it.

I did however plunk down the cash for the top of the line Dr. Beat. Man, I don't know if $150 is too much for a metronome but it's nice to actually get a more physical feel of the rhythm by looking at digital needle since I can subdivide. Subdividing in your head is good and all (which is what I used to do) but there's something about being able to see the "swing" when you're trying to play a ballad at 45 bpm.

Marc Piane · #5 12-15-2006, 03:43 PM

I have two, one at home and one at my teaching studio. The one I have at my studio has no volume control. I just put a piece of duct tape over the speaker to kill the volume.

The one have I have at home is the Korg MA-30. It has a volume dial. I think it was ~$20.

I should also point out that I think a metronome needs to be used sparingly. I used to practice everything with a metronome. I've changed my mind of late and only use it on tricky passages. I think it is a good tool if a passage is hard. You can use the metronome ot help ramp the speed. But like a calculator I think it can become a bit of a crutch.

With all due respect I totally disagree with any kind of visual representation of time being helpful. Your sense of time needs to be internal. This is why I even say to use them sparingly at all. My swing changes depending on the players I am with. Definition of swing is for a different discussion though.

hdiddy · #6 12-15-2006, 05:29 PM

I did masking tape on the metronome and it was still too loud!

Yeah you're right, time does need to be internal. I hardly look at the needle anyway. Who's got time for that when you have to concentrate on soloing, sightreading, etc. etc. It's only good for concentraining on my time and trying to be on top of the beat as possible. There are some physical exercises I do to try to internalize it as well. The needle is kinda good for that.

Anyways, did I mention that it drones any tone you want in 3 octaves?!?

**Damon Rondeau** · #7 12-15-2006, 06:06 PM

My 'nome has a nice clave sound, with volume control. I picked it on the basis of that sound.

Marc Piane · #8 12-16-2006, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hdiddy

Anyways, did I mention that it drones any tone you want in 3 octaves?!?

Now that is handy.

relacey · #9 12-16-2006, 08:42 AM

I picked up an older Franz metronome off of eBay a couple of years ago for around $25. It has a brown bakelite case and plugs into the 110V power. A nice clack sound and a front adjustment dial with a 1950's look. That's OK since I have the same look. I haven't noticed it as being too loud, but my wife does shut the door when I use it. That could be me and not the metronome though. It's much better than the Seiko's I have laying around that my kids had to buy for school band.

I generally set it at half speed with the beats on the 2 and 4 for practice. I always thought I had pretty good time and playing with a click on each beat or just on the 1 is no problem. But this took a little getting used to; however, I think this has helped my time sense develop even better.

**Damon Rondeau** · #10 12-16-2006, 09:33 AM

I love those old Franz 'nomes! Does yours have a diamond-shaped light on the top?

The clack on mine was just a bit too loud so I opened it up and put a little cardboard shim in the clacker mechanism. The thing worked for decades until I dropped it one time too many...

relacey · #11 12-16-2006, 12:47 PM

Nope, no light just a clack.

BassBot · #12 01-09-2007, 12:41 PM

The Boss DB-30 Dr. Beat is available at most stores for about $35. I like it because the rhythms are very customizable. Also, it plays all 12 chromatic tones, which is useful for playing in tune on-the-road (when you aren't near a piano or stereo); it's also good for ear-training on long car trips :-)

McGryff · #13 10-22-2008, 03:12 PM

I'm getting intrigued by the Dr. Beats & their Korg, etc. counterparts. Does the DB-30 (or any Dr. Beat) do a swing pattern or rhythm? That would be pretty durn cool. I don't really dig all the pitched beeping, but I could possibly learn to ignore that if I had a 'nome that swung (albeit electronically... not the organic, REAL-THING, but possibly useful for practice).

Marcus Johnson · #14 10-22-2008, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fingers

People will tell you to get one that does different time signatures and rhythmic subdivision.

I say you don't need all that. Buy the cheapest one you can. I prefer ones that click. Beeping drives me nuts. I try to train my students to subdivide in thier heads.

+1.... old school Wittner's fine for me. I like how they sound, I like how they look. Anything more complex than that, I got a ****load of drums in my Yamaha keyboard.

Gornick · #15 10-22-2008, 05:34 PM

Personally, I can't stand beeps... My first teacher told me to look for something organic and not electronic, your going to have to listen to this thing A LOT. For me that rules korg's and boss's which I have checked out recently to replace the Matrix which died. I know Marcus has a nice old school percussive click, but for something cheaper I would look at the Matrix: simple single dial and on-off switch, nice click sound, even if it is electric.

I turn it around on the stand if I want the volume a little lower or even put it in my pocket, if it's still too loud.

hdiddy · #16 10-22-2008, 07:00 PM

I splurged and bought a DB-90. It slices it dices and makes a nice casserole. ANd it's way too expensive new.

Voices can be changed so that it provides a kick drum sound or hi-hat. It can do drones. It can do crazy types of odd meters.

Marcus Johnson · #17 10-22-2008, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gornick

I know Marcus has a nice old school percussive click

That's my knee..... leftovers from a hard foul in eighth grade basketball.

Gornick · #18 10-22-2008, 08:54 PM

Funny I got the same thing going... and from basketball too!

doesn't sound anything like a korg does it?