Newn practice questions.

[egroeg]

Hey y'all, I'm quite new to the bass. I'm taking lessons at a local music shop.
Right now learning reading sheet music and playing whole, half, and quarter notes on open strings.
Using Hal Leonard Bass Method book 1. Now maybe this sounds simple and it kinda is UNTIL I add a metronome, something my teacher said to use. The metronome makes practice more interesting/fun because, at least to me, it's harder than I woulda thought .
Anyways, I'm using my phone as a metronome and while it works it's not ideal. It kills my phone and the screen keeps shutting off and then the visual cues are gone and it can be hard to hear.
What metronome would y'all suggest? Don't wanna spend a ton but I would like a decent one.
Also what would y'all reccomend for beats per minute? I started the lesson at 60 got it at 75 now. Guess my question is what should my goal be for beats per minute?

Thanks

 

[FatStringer52]

I have and use the Boss TU-30. It is both a metronome and tuner both in one package. The only downside I have found with it is that it automatically shuts off (to conserve battery life) after 5 minutes. But that doesn't really bother me since most of the songs I play are less than 5 minutes . . .

Boss TU-30 Metronome & Tuner

There are also some very good free metronomes apps for PC and MAC. I use Open Metronome on my PC . . .

Download Free Metronome Software for Windows and Windows Mobile

But there are plenty more to choose from. Google would be your friend here.

As far as BPM, I wouldn't set a goal. Just do as you are and increase the BPM in increments of 5 as you progress. Find the point to where you have issues and back up 5 from there and continue on until you can handle the increase in speed. It isn't a race, speed is not your goal. Being able to play cleanly is. You'll discover where your limitations are and will be able to focus your attention to specific areas when you do.

Welcome to TB and best of luck in your music journey . . .

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Hey y'all, I'm quite new to the bass. I'm taking lessons at a local music shop.
Right now learning reading sheet music and playing whole, half, and quarter notes on open strings.
Using Hal Leonard Bass Method book 1. Now maybe this sounds simple and it kinda is UNTIL I add a metronome, something my teacher said to use. The metronome makes practice more interesting/fun because, at least to me, it's harder than I woulda thought .
Anyways, I'm using my phone as a metronome and while it works it's not ideal. It kills my phone and the screen keeps shutting off and then the visual cues are gone and it can be hard to hear.
What metronome would y'all suggest? Don't wanna spend a ton but I would like a decent one.
Also what would y'all reccomend for beats per minute? I started the lesson at 60 got it at 75 now. Guess my question is what should my goal be for beats per minute?

Thanks

Drum machine. "1 and 2 and" beat

The Beat Buddy pedal is pretty amazing

 

[JRA]

all/most of my metronome studies are in front of a computer (with sound) = lots of different metronomic options for different issues!

OP, i'd look on amazon for something in the $20-$40 range = lots of choices! also: there really isn't a 'top end BPM' for your metronome/reading exercises: getting up to 120BPM and above will have advantages for your play-alongs. good luck with your bass lessons/practice/study!

 

[Bass]

Practice requires a metronome. I use a metronome that resembles this:

https://www.amazon.ca/Seiko-SQ50-V-...keywords=metronome+dial&qid=1627329130&sr=8-1

 

[SteveCS]

My personal preference is for the mechanical type with just a simple click.

There is something musical about the mechanical imperfection compared to the high-precision electronic 'nome.

 

[Malcolm35]

Once you get with a band the beat master will set the beat. The beat master could be you or the drummer. My point, both are human, so dropping into a groove is more important than following a click. Just something to keep in mind.

Right now use the metronome. A good one will run from free to $30.

Had a band mate that got all bent out of shape because the vocalist did not follow the beat. Notice I said I had a band mate. The vocalist was the director's wife. My friend could not adapt so out he went. If you are playing with a hobby band you adapt.

Just something to keep in mind.

 

[ardgedee]

To keep the phone's screen from shutting off, change the setting on your phone. On iPhone it's in the Settings app, under "Display & Brightness" > "Auto-Lock". On Android it's in the Settings app, under "Display" > "Screen Timeout". Just remember to set it back when you're done practicing.

Might also want to try different metronome apps. A good one should prevent the phone's operating system from interfering with it.

You can slow battery burndown by lowering the brightness on your phone, but you could also keep the phone plugged in to the wall instead. Extension cords are cheap.

 

[Max Bogosity]

As a quick guide to what tempo you should aim for, pick a few songs that you would like to learn and figure out their tempo. Many metronome apps have a ‘tap tempo’ option so you can just tap along with the song and it will figure out the tempo automatically. Now you have an immediate target that is connected to your later goals.

 

[DaDo625]

Drum machine. "1 and 2 and" beat

The Beat Buddy pedal is pretty amazing

+1
When you decide you really want to do this...

Not only helped me during practice, when I started jamming with a guitar player we could become a power trio with a tap of the toe.
Enjoy the ride...

 

[Killing Floor]

I also have an olde world mechanical metronome. But I use my phone quite a bit. RDM app is pretty cool for me (it has a drunk mode!) and I also use the Fender app. What I like about that one is it goes exceptionally slow tempo if you’re into that sort of thing.

 

[BurnOut]

Drum machine. "1 and 2 and" beat

The Beat Buddy pedal is pretty amazing

I second the Beat Buddy, or Beat Buddy Junior, you can use it just like a metronome, or practice working with actual beat progressions, a great practice tool.

 

[clockworkcorpse]

i have both a modern digital one, and an older digital seiko one that used to be my mum's. the modern one has all sorts of bells and... well actually bells and ticks, but i love the simplicity and nice sounding older seiko as it just has an "on/off/silent" switch, and a large round dial to rotate to the desired bpm. silent mode is just blinking light, and normal on mode has the light and this delightful "tock" sound like a wood block.

really anything will probably work, but look around stores and find something that makes you happy.

 

[two fingers]

To keep the phone's screen from shutting off, change the setting on your phone. On iPhone it's in the Settings app, under "Display & Brightness" > "Auto-Lock". On Android it's in the Settings app, under "Display" > "Screen Timeout". Just remember to set it back when you're done practicing.

Might also want to try different metronome apps. A good one should prevent the phone's operating system from interfering with it.

You can slow battery burndown by lowering the brightness on your phone, but you could also keep the phone plugged in to the wall instead. Extension cords are cheap.

All of this. Phone app is just too easy.

 

[lfmn16]

To keep the phone's screen from shutting off, change the setting on your phone. On iPhone it's in the Settings app, under "Display & Brightness" > "Auto-Lock". On Android it's in the Settings app, under "Display" > "Screen Timeout". Just remember to set it back when you're done practicing.

Might also want to try different metronome apps. A good one should prevent the phone's operating system from interfering with it.

You can slow battery burndown by lowering the brightness on your phone, but you could also keep the phone plugged in to the wall instead. Extension cords are cheap.

Or you could use your charger.

 

[MrLenny1]

Google one online.

 

[Eli_Kyiv]

I've bought one of these for my band's drummer. Works just fine. $5 well spent.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

I hate metronomes! Very sterile and kills groove. Never used one and I've always been right in the pocket when playing with other musicians. If you set a metronome to a particular song and start it right on beat one, you will find that before the songs end, things aren't giving too well. And that's with professional musicians. It's just the way it is. I guess it can help people who have a difficult time with "feeling" the music/beat.

 

[mambo4]

Very sterile and kills groove.

Not if you set the click on 2 and 4. Then it's just a rock steady back beat, against which one can groove for days.

Playing naked against a 4/4 metronome is certainly not as fun as with a drum machine pattern, backing track or band. It will mercilessly expose every shortcoming on MY own timing. Of course I can't come close the live groove of living breathing players, but I can achieve some degree of "feel" against a metronome. It ain't easy when it's all on me, however. but that's the point: it forces me to own the mistakes in a way that drum machines / tracks / a band would smooth over.

 

[arbiterusa]

Use anything that gets you playing in time. I prefer a good drummer but use a drum machine when a good drummer is not around.