Metronome for a beginning bassist..

[saladman]

Hi i'm new to this forum and this is my first post. I'm starting to learn bass guitar and really love to learn more about it.

I know that a metronome is an essential tool to practice with. And i'm planning to buy a cheapo one first at my local music store.

So which is better for practicing analog or digital? and if someone can recommend a specific metronome that they've been using when they were starting.

Thanks

 

[Arnold]

I like this quartz kind. http://www.metronomes.net/Electronic Quartz Metronome.htm They have a much nicer "clic" sound than the electronic "beep" sound that the small metronomes have. I wouldn't worry too much about which one you get, the 16ish dollar Matrix one is fine (I have one). Get one and use it.

 

[greggster59]

If you have an iPhone there is an app by Frozen Ape called Tempo 2 for $2 that is the most functional metronome I own.

 

[doctorpunch]

Korg makes a combo tuner/metronome for like...$30. You can program in tempo/measure and have the silliest time measures.

 

[kuys]

If you have an iPhone there is an app by Frozen Ape called Tempo 2 for $2 that is the most functional metronome I own.

+1

Though a metronome never helped me, I always tended to play a note on the "click".

Another option is to find some decent drum loops at different bpm's and play along. I had a cheap pedal back in the day for guitar that had a couple drum loops that helped me with my timing that so that may also be an option.

 

[totallyfrozen]

I've used the KORG KDM-2 for years. I think it's a decent one.

Most recently; however, I've been using the one in Invalid Link Removed.

 

[totallyfrozen]

Though a metronome never helped me, I always tended to play a note on the "click"...

That's what you're supposed to do with a metronome when you're a beginner (as the OP'er stated he was). That's how you learn to lock in with a drummer.

Drum machines, drum loops, and drum tracks can be confusing for a beginner...it's just too much to listen to at once.

 

[Nic.]

If you have an iPhone there is an app by Frozen Ape called Tempo 2 for $2 that is the most functional metronome I own.

I find that non-dedicated metronomes tend to lag. It's not much, sometimes not very noticeable, but when you compare it to a dedicated one the timing changes over time. I don't know if this app is also a victim of this, but I would rather trust a dedicated metronome.

I've several metronomes, nowadays I'm using the Korg that's credit-card sized and around 1cm thick. I used to use this Seiko met that's smaller than a large clothes-peg... but I kept misplacing it because it was so small. It's this one-

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[pltnny]

I use a Korg KDM-1 digital, which has pretty decent volume. In addition to a click or beep, some metronomes have a light that can be set for quarters, eighths, sixteenths, etc.

 

[Aaron Mc]

Do you practice near your computer? Here is an online metronome: http://www.studybass.com/tools/online-metronome/

Its free and while you are there you can check out the free bass lessons. Great website.

 

[David Jayne]

You don't need one. It's absolutely useless to you, seriously. Simply learn your instrument, and develop good technique. A metronome will simply force you to rush past things, where you should slow down and learn to play those things properly. Anyone that tells you it's an 'essential tool to practice with' is simply wrong. Seriously.

 

[Snipper!]

Get one with a nice 'click', the bleepers can get very tedious after a while.

 

[longfinger]

Don't by a cheap metronome. Buy a good one and keep it. A quality digital metronome can last you decades with proper care. Long, long after that expensive iPhone has been junked.

You need something sturdy, loud, and simple. Fancy time signature, and beat features of not really necessary, but may be nice to have. Same as "tap tempo". Those simple dial metronomes are still excellent.

When I use my metronome, I mostly use it in 0/0 time. Steady click only, I imagine the context of the click (meter, and what the click is in regards to beat ie, 1+3, 2+4, 1, 4, last triplet of each beat in 12/8). As such, the fancy time features of my metronome go unused.

Basically, don't waste time with something that will quickly break on you, or is so small you'll lose it in your room. Buy a quality metronome, well designed and well built and keep it.

By "analog" do you mean a wind up "Maelzel" metronome? I think a battery operated one is best. The dial is faster to operate than the buttons, because it's simpler, but the buttons have more options, which you may not need.

It has to be Functional.

 

[totallyfrozen]

You don't need one. It's absolutely useless to you, seriously. Simply learn your instrument, and develop good technique. A metronome will simply force you to rush past things, where you should slow down and learn to play those things properly. Anyone that tells you it's an 'essential tool to practice with' is simply wrong. Seriously.

I disagree. If you have a sense of rhythm and some patience, you will learn to be more accurate with a metronome, IME.

 

[David Jayne]

I disagree. If you have a sense of rhythm and some patience, you will learn to be more accurate with a metronome, IME.

How? It's not meant for instrumental practice help.

 

[Staccato]

Pick one of these, there's color options! Mine looks teal or blue-green...

Yamaha QT-1

 

[fearceol]

You don't need one. It's absolutely useless to you, seriously. Simply learn your instrument, and develop good technique. A metronome will simply force you to rush past things, where you should slow down and learn to play those things properly. Anyone that tells you it's an 'essential tool to practice with' is simply wrong. Seriously.

Victor Wotton seems to find it useful.

 

[MNAirHead]

PM me and I'll email a mp3 click track... save the retirement money

Tim

Hi i'm new to this forum and this is my first post. I'm starting to learn bass guitar and really love to learn more about it.

I know that a metronome is an essential tool to practice with. And i'm planning to buy a cheapo one first at my local music store.

So which is better for practicing analog or digital? and if someone can recommend a specific metronome that they've been using when they were starting.

Thanks

 

[Setebos]

I dont use a metronome. But about a year and a half ago I got to a site where you have a drum loop program. I thought I was going to use it a lot but have only used it 2 or 3 times.
Suggest you try to find something like that. You can program lots of different drum patterns and in the case you dont feel interested to use it at least you didnt expend any money.

 

[mambo4]

You don't need one. It's absolutely useless to you, seriously. Simply learn your instrument, and develop good technique. A metronome will simply force you to rush past things, where you should slow down and learn to play those things properly.

absolutely false. There are things you can and should practice with a metronome,and there are things you can and should practice without.
A metronome is useful to learn accurate tempo, and ensure you can play things at the needed speed. that is what it is for.

Anyone who has ever played with someone who has poor sense of tempo knows how misleading your advice can be.

That is not to say that one must always practice everythingwith a metronome. It is only one of many aspects of music to practice.

If a metronome 'forces you to rush,' you are simply setting the tempo too high for the phrase you are practicing, and haven't developed the muscle memory to play it at speed.
Those are things you can practice without a metronome. But how do you know if your speed is improving? Use a metronome.

At the end of the day, you have to play your stuff at the correct tempo. How do you know if your tempo is correct? Use a metronome.

to say it is "useless" is misleading to a beginner.