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Metronome help

A

azian32

Sep 11, 2012
61
0
35
Sydney, NSW Australia
#1
Hey fellow tb'ers!!
I have a quick question!!
So im learning how to read music, use a metranome and perfect my internal time. My question is:
Should I be able to use a metronome without using sheet music? Like should I use the sheet music to learn the song and then play without it? Because if so I'm having trouble remembering where to play on and off the beat... :/ if that makes sense? I can play with a metronome with the sheet music buy if I try to play the songs with a metronome without it I have trouble. But in saying that I can play the song fine on its own but the second you put a metronome im hurping like a durp from mt slupper... Is that ok? Or does that imply im not doing my job as a bass player?

Please note im still learning so please don't judge.

Thanks in advance tb'ers!!
 
#2
playing in time and learning to read music are two different skills - i would not combine them into one if you're still learning to do both. Work on these skills separately. Then as you get stronger in each you can try sight-reading to a metronome.

When you're first working on any new skill or tackling a new piece of music, don't impose the rigidity of the metronomic time. It'll just cause you to gloss over mistakes and not properly learn to execute the new skill cleanly and properly. you need the freedom to be able to play slowly, focus on problem areas, etc... When you've worked out the kinks out of time, then you can try it to a metronome.
 
#4
azian32 said:
Thanks for the fast reply. So learning how to read all I'm doing is picking easy songs to get me started (rhcp dosed, feel good) and using a metranome. Is this a correct step? If so what do I need to do to perfect my inner timing?
Thanks,
Mark
Click to expand...

Well first, learn the notes for the song. Figure out where they lie on the neck and what the best fingerings are for you to play these notes. Make sure you can execute them cleanly and have worked out any challenges they contain for you. When you've got that down, then put the metronome at a slow tempo and play along to the metronome.

If you are having problems playing along with a metronome then you'll need to work specifically on timing type exercises - as a separate exercise from the song you are trying to learn.

there are lots of good resources on the Internet on how to practice along with a metronome.

A KILLER book to help you develop inner timing which I don't often hear mentioned is "Rhythm - What it is and how to improve your sense of it." by Andrew Lewis.
 
#5
Also my bass teacher is getting me to use tab and look at yhe sheet music for rythem... I personally don't like this, it confuses me while playing because it's getting me to take in to much at once. Would it not be better for me to just learn to play reading sheet music? I can already play tab, just matter of getting the timing/rythem.
Thanks
Mark
 
#8
Art Araya said:
It's good to be able to able to read both standard notation and tab, I guess since you're likely to encounter sheet music in both forms these days. But reading both at one time does seem a little confusing to me. But follow your teacher.
Click to expand...

Ok well I suppose if he can do it then only in time I can also :) thanks for helping. Needed to clear my hea with this stuff, felt like I was going in circles thinking it was pointless learning the tab and playing to the ryrhem of the sheet music and I dont evem know what the notes say... haha. (Well read the notes fast enough)
 

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