Newn practice questions.

[Kipp Harrington]

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.

Those are all arguably good points. It just doesn't make sense to me when it's time to play with other musicians. Unless of course, they have the same approach to practicing with a metronome... which in my opinion, is highly unlikely.

I feel that the "true" metronome is the drummer and everyone else in the band needs to feed off him/her.

 

[SteveCS]

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.
...
I guess it can help people who have a difficult time with "feeling" the music/beat.

Those are all arguably good points. It just doesn't make sense to me when it's time to play with other musicians.
...
I feel that the "true" metronome is the drummer and everyone else in the band needs to feed off him/her.

The point of the metronome is not really to practice groove or feel, but to learn and practice anticipating a pulse and counting time. If you can't keep time with a fixed reference then you really don't stand a chance with a variable reference such as a drummer. The only reason bands lock together is because there is closed-loop feedback between the all of the players - each of you is listening and anticipating the other and homing on the other's sense of time to find the pocket. The second one or more of you stops listening or anticipating the other(s) it starts to fall apart. If you can't play with a metronome, do you ever wonder how much of a burden you might be to the drummer having to do most of the listening, anticipating and adjusting?

Playing with a metronome is open-loop feedback - the pace of the metronome has no bearing on the outcome and there is no pocket. Only one participant can achieve synchronisation and, having no ears, it is not the metronome. Playing with a metronome is a different discipline with a different goal - it is about listening.

YMMV

 

[egroeg]

Thanks for all the replies. Right now I think a drum machine may be a little much. Just learning to read music and keeping time with a metronome is not as easy as I woulda thunk.
It does make me listen though. I start slow and when I got it I speed it up til I get that.
Really having fun with it! But don't wanna rush things at the expense of learning correctly. But I figure if this part is fun it'll be really cool when I can actually play lol.

 

[Eli_Kyiv]

Right now I think a drum machine may be a little much.

Btw there's this free Hydrogen drum machine multiplatform software. I mostly use it instead of metronome.

 

[Bass]

...The second one or more of you stops listening or anticipating the other(s) it starts to fall apart. If you can't play with a metronome, do you ever wonder how much of a burden you might be to the drummer having to do most of the listening, anticipating and adjusting?

This is our guitar player. He doesn't listen and falls out of time. He speeds up, slows down and even misses beats. He does not practice with a metronome.

The drummer and I are often "flipping the beat" and the guitar player is oblivious. He has no idea. How do you suppose this looks to the audience?

I don't want to be him. It would never occur to me to practice without a metronome.

 

[vindibona1]

I've bought one of these for my band's drummer. Works just fine. $5 well spent.
View attachment 4347855

Something like that works to get basic tempos, but I find that this type is too cumbersome to use as a serious practice metronome. I find that students, because of the buttons rather than a jog wheel or dial tend not to use this type. When running through a passage or figure with escalating tempi as the figure gets easier, it becomes bothersome to pick up the metronome, push the button 5 (or more) times and put it down. The ones I recommend do not require picking up nor pushing or holding buttons. I've got one of those too (see photo below). I cannot remember the last time I used it nor remember why I bought it. Convenient metronomes get used. Less convenient ones collect dust. JME

 

[SoCal80s]

I use a free app called "Metronome" by EUMLab. They also have a pay version called "Pro Metronome." When I was a kid I had one similar to this one from Amazon, worked great for $10.

As far as tempo, you want to get as quick as you can. BUT, start slow and slowly work your way up. Only increase the tempo when you can consistently play the exercise without making any mistakes and with proper technique. And if you find yourself making mistakes, then go down on the tempo and work your way back up.

 

[Shaina Karasik]

I've bought one of these for my band's drummer. Works just fine. $5 well spent.
View attachment 4347855

What’s the link? It’s on Amazon?

 

[Shaina Karasik]

I use a free app called "Metronome" by EUMLab. They also have a pay version called "Pro Metronome." When I was a kid I had one similar to this one from Amazon, worked great for $10.

As far as tempo, you want to get as quick as you can. BUT, start slow and slowly work your way up. Only increase the tempo when you can consistently play the exercise without making any mistakes and with proper technique. And if you find yourself making mistakes, then go down on the tempo and work your way back up.

I use that same emu labs app and paid for the pro metronome full version and features. It’s really great!

 

[IamGroot]

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.

What he said, The metronome is a Drill Sargeant to expose your weaknesses and help you improve. Beat on the 2 and 4 for walking lines. Speed is not important initially. Perfection is. Be able to play your item perfectly before cranking up the speed.

Drum machines are fun and help develop jamming skills and groove AFTER your time and skills are in place.

 

[Eli_Kyiv]

What’s the link? It’s on Amazon?

It's Aliexpress. There're different models, some more powerful.

 

[IamGroot]

My special thanks to @SteveCS and @mambo4 for speaking up.

And to quote the old saying "everyone is responsible for the time in a band, not just the drummer."

 

[WrapRough]

My personal preference is for the mechanical type with just a simple click.
View attachment 4347247
There is something musical about the mechanical imperfection compared to the high-precision electronic 'nome.

Wittner for the win


If i'm not on this, then I like the Soundcorset phone app