No! The metronome

[JazznFunk]

I would be more inclined to call it a technique rather than a "crutch". With movement the time is still coming from you after all.

No, the time is the time, independent of body movements and attempts to 'force the feel', and everyone is responsible for being able to feel and maintain it as closely as humanly possible. A clock doesn't wave its hands around in an attempt to keep time. It just does. We don't have to stomp our feet to keep our heart in rhythm. If we do, we're in trouble. All of that being said, I've certainly stomped my feet and bobbed my head a few times (among other overt gestures) to communicate where the time/feel is when others obviously aren't getting it. For me, I can hear AND feel it pretty quickly when things start to rush or drag to a noticeable degree. We do have to adjust in the moment, because no one is perfect. But the average of everyone's collective time and feel shouldn't create any major swings. If had to do that on every gig and people don't put in the work to fix their time issues, I prolly wouldn't stick around for too many gigs. Life is too short for bad time.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Less metronome...more cowbell!

Cowbell metronome. Worked for BOC.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I have a low-key restaurant gig where I play with a guy that plays acoustic guitar. My timing has been pretty good until recently. It has gone to crap. Either I over-think or my mind wanders. The guitar player has a steady beat So it’s back to the metronome for me.. Any suggestions to make it easier?

I'm in the "fix the real problem" camp. Work on that over-thinking. Figure out why your mind wanders. Are you bored? Need to do new songs? New parts?

 

[Whousedtoplay]

I also don't run while playing bass,

Really???

 

[Paul New]

I like to practice my scales at very slow tempos, setting the metronome as low as 20 BPM and placing the click on the four. Most other exercises i play at 60bpm with the clicks on 2 and 4, but there are many ways to do it. The harder it is, the more it helps.

Eden has some fun exercises.

Good post, man!

 

[doctone]

Turn off beats 1 and 3, make it groove!

This is the way to go if you have not tried it yet. Set the 'nome at half speed and make it click on beats 2 and 4, kind of like the snare drum. This is going to unstiff a lot.

 

[turf3]

yes i have went against a metronome that will cut out for a measure and i am in the ballpark. Again, I have a drummer to keep time at gigs, but Ive done acoustic gigs and having that built in metronome really helps. I dont tap my foot throughout a normal gig.

"in the ballpark".

OK.

 

[john_g]

"in the ballpark".

OK.

How accurate are you? And who cares.

OK.

 

[bass12]

No, the time is the time, independent of body movements and attempts to 'force the feel', and everyone is responsible for being able to feel and maintain it as closely as humanly possible. A clock doesn't wave its hands around in an attempt to keep time. It just does. We don't have to stomp our feet to keep our heart in rhythm. If we do, we're in trouble. All of that being said, I've certainly stomped my feet and bobbed my head a few times (among other overt gestures) to communicate where the time/feel is when others obviously aren't getting it. For me, I can hear AND feel it pretty quickly when things start to rush or drag to a noticeable degree. We do have to adjust in the moment, because no one is perfect. But the average of everyone's collective time and feel shouldn't create any major swings. I had to do that on every gig and people don't put in the work to fix their time issues, I prolly wouldn't stick around for too many gigs. Life is too short for bad time.

Cool, do what works for you. Tapping my foot or moving other parts of my body work for me - and for a lot of other people. No one else really cares what gets you there, as long as you get there.

 

[turf3]

How accurate are you? And who cares.

OK.

I've got a tendency to rush, but I don't assume that tapping my foot will somehow magically make me stop it. No, tapping my foot will just cause my foot to accelerate along with the rest of me. The cure is to stake down your time to something that objectively keeps accurate time - i.e., a metronome.

This is for practice, not for performance.

For all the years until I accepted the need for metronome practice, my time was all over the place. I found metronome practice frustrating (well, no kidding, my time was all over the place!) Regular use of a metronome or equivalent timekeeper has made a big difference (although I'm not perfect; no one is.)

 

[john_g]

I've got a tendency to rush, but I don't assume that tapping my foot will somehow magically make me stop it. No, tapping my foot will just cause my foot to accelerate along with the rest of me. The cure is to stake down your time to something that objectively keeps accurate time - i.e., a metronome.

This is for practice, not for performance.

For all the years until I accepted the need for metronome practice, my time was all over the place. I found metronome practice frustrating (well, no kidding, my time was all over the place!) Regular use of a metronome or equivalent timekeeper has made a big difference (although I'm not perfect; no one is.)

Ok and that is fine, im not Berlin-ing this. I practice with it sometimes and teach my students to do both. My comments were more for the gig itself AFTER op practiced at home with a nome.

 

[Lefty Joe]

I quit drinking on gigs over a decade ago, and quit drinking period almost 4 years ago. It does make a difference. Not to derail the thread, but I've never played better while consuming alcohol. Recordings prove it. Same for my bandmates.

Alcohol is really another (more obvious) issue, but I had to include it because the body processes alcohol as sugar; attempting sugar elimination without alcohol elimination would yield no benefit.

Not wishing to be the village crank here, so I'll just suggest googling sugar-elimination for those interested in learning more.

 

[rickdog]

I also don't run while playing bass....

Well, of course not! Real bass players skip!

 

[AK Bass Guy]

For all you professionals that say tapping your foot isn’t for professionals.
Tapping your foot, bobbing your head, or dancing side to side helps you stay in time.

 

[P. Aaron]

In the Dept Of Wacky Suggestions Nobody Could Possibly Take Seriously:

• eliminate all sugar and alcohol from your diet for two weeks

No way, you might say; that has nothing to do with it.
Good joke, you might say. Those fad-diet people are nuts.
I could never, you might say; I gotta have it.

I understand. Go on as you were. I just thought someone should say it, so now it's said.

Note/disclosure: I've rarely done this myself. Day 2-5 is the hardest. But Day 6 begins the improved mental clarity.

You don't hear about this because there's no money to be made in it.

Added benefit of weight loss when limiting sugar.
I love sweets & baked good tho'.
I barely drink.

 

[Rich-Cincy Kid]

What about it do you feel is hard?

Most of us approach the metronome with a sense of dread. If you change your mindset it can actually be pretty meditative.

Without a doubt, using a Metronome is essential for my practices to be able to get the feel and working with our drummer . Note: I am studying Jazz Standards for the last 7 years.

 

[klokker]

I agree that (periodically) grabbing the metronome helps in many areas. For me, it relaxes me and helps me loosen my wrist and get that "weighted finger" feel that is so important for good tone and fluid playing. This takes a long time to grow into in my experience. This is fingerstyle of course, but a simple back and forth on the beat then double time then quadruple time works best for me and my technique. I work on three finger just for fun and the metronome really helps there too.

In the groove, relaxed wrist, finger independence. You don't have to do it all the time, but if you're getting sloppy spending a little time with the metronome is really helpful.