View Full Version : Need metronome tips
I have just begun to learn faster songs and am new to using the metronome, so I need a few thing cleared up.
1. Is it essential to use a metronome for everything, or just the fast stuff? And what would be the result if I just went straight in and didn't use it?
2. How long do I need to stay on each metronome setting? I know i'm supposed to stay in each setting until I've "mastered" it, but how much time are we talking here if I wanted to learn a 5 second lick or something? (I know its different for everyone, but just give me an idea)
3. I sometimes have trouble playing songs to the metronome beats; figuring out how they fit between the beats etc. Its easy with a backing track, but its hard with a metronome. Got any tips?
Any advice is appreciated.
1. A metronome is not essential to learn something, but it is the most valuable tool you can use. They can help you by improving your timing, as in keeping a steady tempo without speeding up or slowing down.
2. I only bump the tempo up when I can consistently play a passage at whatever tempo I'm currently using. That's just my rule of thumb.
3. Just keep at it. With a backing track, certain beats are emphasized (as in ONE two three four ONE two three four) which makes it easier to play along with.
Hope this helps. Playing along with a metronome is a trial and error thing, you'll figure it out.
1. Is it essential to use a metronome for everything, or just the fast stuff? And what would be the result if I just went straight in and didn't use it?
No you don't have to use it at all ... Personally , I never relied much on metronome practicing , but it did help in particular situations.
So from my humble experience, I can tell you that metronome practicing can add to your technique and precision or it can be useless , but it definitely won't harm you.
2. How long do I need to stay on each metronome setting? I know i'm supposed to stay in each setting until I've "mastered" it, but how much time are we talking here if I wanted to learn a 5 second lick or something? (I know its different for everyone, but just give me an idea)
Generaly speaking , it depends on the max speed your shooting for ... I'll give you an example.
Let's say you can alternate pick at 160bpm comfortably , if you're learning a line withing that limit , it shouldn't take more than 5 minutes to fully master.
If you're going for a tempo that's higher than your current max , then it might take more than few days to reach your goal .
Just never give up , and be reasonable with your goals.
3. I sometimes have trouble playing songs to the metronome beats; figuring out how they fit between the beats etc. Its easy with a backing track, but its hard with a metronome. Got any tips?
With backing tracks , you hear the chords and you feel the tonal changes ... It's definitely easier for guitarists to solo over music lines rather than doing it over beats.
If you have a drummer friend , let him teach you some stuff ... It will significantly improve your sense of the beats and time intervals.
Anyway, soloing with a backing track is still more practical , since this is what you'll be facing in all band situations.
Spynal
12-01-2004, 08:11 PM
I have just begun to learn faster songs and am new to using the metronome, so I need a few thing cleared up.
1. Is it essential to use a metronome for everything, or just the fast stuff? And what would be the result if I just went straight in and didn't use it?
2. How long do I need to stay on each metronome setting? I know i'm supposed to stay in each setting until I've "mastered" it, but how much time are we talking here if I wanted to learn a 5 second lick or something? (I know its different for everyone, but just give me an idea)
3. I sometimes have trouble playing songs to the metronome beats; figuring out how they fit between the beats etc. Its easy with a backing track, but its hard with a metronome. Got any tips?
Any advice is appreciated.
1. Not everything, and not just the fast stuff.......My band plays alot of Doom Metal licks and as such, we're playing @ 60bpm or less at times .... metronomes help the fast and the slow. As for goign stright in, it depends..... you'll either fall apart, or not. You may also develop bad habits on faster licks, but taking shortcuts so you don't have to woodshed them later, this is bad
2. It's a personal thing. General rule of thumn: if you can play it consistently (usu. 5 times in a row) at the tempo without a mistake, kick the tempo up. This varies fromp[erson to person, all depends on your retention.
3. It's always easier to a full backing track .... when we record, we use backing tracks AND metronomes.... it's the best,solid way to go about it. This way, if you're ever without one, it's not completely foreign to you
ChromeBeast
12-03-2004, 06:59 PM
1. Metronome is not essential. It only becomes essential if you want to have a smooth even sound at faster tempos. The result of not using a metronome is exactly what I had to deal with - 10 years of bad habits that need to be unlearned.
2. I usually do not bump up the metronome until I can play the phrase over and over, without starting and stopping after each phrase, for about a minute. Of course shorter licks effect this amount of time.
3. I had the same problem, especially at slower speeds. Heres a trick: Say the phrase is 16th notes at 80bpm (four notes per beat). Instead of setting the metronome at 80, set it at 160 and play 8th notes (two notes per beat) and count like this 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 1 and 2 and etc.... The numbers are the beats. The "and" is the time inbetween beats. Once you are cool with that, set the nome at 80 and try it again, but count 1 e and a 2 e and a 3 e and a 4 e and a ...etc.... You'll be playing exactly the same speed as before, but counting differently. It helped me. Now, I can just start the count in my head and take off.
Other tips:
1. Don't just play licks, play scales, and chromatic patterns. This really helps when you get into improvising.
2. Always start slow...real slow. It's funny at how hard this is to do.
Hope that helps!
Chrome
Very helpful, thanks chrome.
Can you tell me more about these bad habits you picked up?
(I hope I haven't got any from not using a metronome until now)
ChromeBeast
12-03-2004, 08:47 PM
Even if you did pick up some bad habits they are not too hard to break. I played for 12+ years without one, and when I started writing some technical music and I wanted to play some new licks, I couldn't.
When I first got into shredding :eek: I was really into Vinnie Moore. I got a lot of his licks down at super fast speeds. But other licks I couldn't do if the pattern varied too much. The music I was getting into called for very precise timing and that was not my thing. I thought I was a god, but really was very sloppy. If you ever have a doubt about your precision, turn off the distortion and play clean the same lick. I was horrified at how sloppy they were.
I am 35 years old (playing since 14), and play in a couple of bands, and I play to the metronome at least 1 hour a day. Today it's been 3+ hours, plus my other practice stuff. I practice with a clean tone, and at the end fire up the rock tone and goof off.
I think it really depends on what type of player you want to be and your natural ability ( I have none ). If you want to play like John Petrucci, than practice practice practice. If you want to play like CC Deville (geez, I am dating myself), than drink beer, get laid, and play in front of a mirror. I am already married, I don't drink, and the mirror makes me realize my age. So, I just practice.
I can play my favorite runs at 200bpm using 16th notes, and my goal is to be able to play whatever I want at that speed. Even though I wouldn't record using these exercises (Chris Impellitterri did that better than anyone), they will help me be precise.
Anyway, enough of a rant outta me. I am bored. The family is out, and it's just me and my guitars. Life is grand. :D
Chrome
i don't think ive got any bad habits, but i still wish i had found out the importance of a metronome a little earlier (ive been playing almost 3 years and am not as good is i would like to be).
Im doing heaps of metallica stuff at the moment and am currently working on the fast solo at the end of "ONE", but my goal is to one day be able to shred like crazy. :D
ok i know HOW to practice with a metronome now, but i'm a bit confused about WHAT to practice.
I've got chromatic scale patterns, a few pentatonic sequences, minor scales, major scales, arpeggios, picking exercises, stuff like that.
My goal is to have much better speed and accuracy. So what should I practice?
Will exercises like these turn me into an all-round faster player?
I've got chromatic scale patterns, a few pentatonic sequences, minor scales, major scales, arpeggios, picking exercises, stuff like that.
Is there anything else left ? You've already said everything ! :D
If you want to be less typical and more unique , try to come up with odd and wierd exercises using the scales and the arpeggios you know ... Check Marty Friedman for some odd exercises.
It takes a lot of patience to become what you want , and that applies to almost everything ... To eventually be a faster player, just try to push your speed limits a little bit every once in a while , and you'll get there one of these days.
So should I just play those exercises I mentioned, and gradually speed them up one-by-one?
I'll probably pick up a copy of speed mechanics soon.
So should I just play those exercises I mentioned, and gradually speed them up one-by-one?
Yep , if more speed is what you're trying to develop.
so what would i do if i was only after accuracy?
noticingthemistake
12-08-2004, 08:20 AM
so what would i do if i was only after accuracy?
Playing with a metronome in itself will build accuracy. The important thing is too play to a tempo where you are accurate, not just where you can manage to squeeze everything in. Do that and you defeat the purpose of practicing with a metronome. Like others have said play to a tempo where you can play it right and slowly increase the speed. Otherwise you'll become sloppy.
To what your asking. There are two things that you can do. One is play stuff to an extremely slow tempo, like 40 bpm. The other is to practice coming on the subdivision of the beat. Most people when they practice with a metronome, almost always start on the first beat "one" or the "tick". If you want timing, and better accuracy. Do this.
Slow the tempo down to 40. Set the T.S. to 4/4, no duplets or quadruplets. Then try counting evenly in between each tick. Like "1 e & a 2 e & a...etc". Then once you get the hang of that, try starting the scales on one of the subdivisions. I.e. start playing on "&" instead of the tick. Continue to practice coming in on the other subdivisions, "e" and "a". This in my opinion is the best practice for learning timing and accuracy. Also do this with triplets, "1 tri-plet 2 tri-plet..etc".
I hope you find this helpful, and good luck.
so will practicing scales and stuff at 60bpm (without changing the tempo) have any effect on your overall accuracy?
If you still can't play a specific line accurate enough at a certain speed , practicing it over and over will achieve accuracy ... Usualy you should go lower to a tempo where you can play pretty accurately and rise the tempo gradually, and you should do this each time you practice.
But if you mean practicing stuff that you're already good at , and at the same tempo too , I don't think you'll go anywhere better from doing that ... You should always try something new or harder if you want to move on to the next level.
thanks, I'm pretty sure thats all i needed to know.
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