metronome

I heard metronomes are very important for the beginning guitarists. Can anyone tell me where I can download a free one, preferably with a lot of bells and whistles ;)

Look it up on any search engine... there's thousand, maybe not thousands, but a lot of metronomes on the internet.

The one I use is... *goes to favorite places, clicks link, gets website*

http://www.metronomeonline.com/metronomeonline/default.asp?style=cool&bhcp=1

I don't know if mind has bells and whistles, but if it did... I'd be the last to know.

They are used for accurate playing. It helps to make sure you play accuratly at whatever speed you want. Make sure you start off slow ;). I wouldnt say it is important when you first start playing guitar but it does come in handy when you do get a little better and especially when you want to shred lots. Without using a metronome you will probably just become really sloppy and miss lots of notes !

Originally posted by Death55
They are used for accurate playing. It helps to make sure you play accuratly at whatever speed you want. Make sure you start off slow ;). I wouldnt say it is important when you first start playing guitar but it does come in handy when you do get a little better and especially when you want to shred lots. Without using a metronome you will probably just become really sloppy and miss lots of notes !

I think it is important when you start of playing, so you can form a good sense of rhythm. Why start off forming bad habits?!?

I think using met is important, for beginners and veterans alike...i also think you should look at buying a digital metronome(even though they have irritating beep sounds), so that you can carry it around to rehersals and jam sessions etc.

what i ment is when you start you will need to learn a few cords etc before trying to learn some alternate picking.

okay now ... this is just my opinion...but i hate metronomes...

the thing is...the tickin just drives me mad, :)

personally i think it's actually a lot more valuable to practice to drum grooves...my thinking is that playing along to (well timed) drum beats automatically forces you to play "musical accents" eg you will for instance automatically play a lil louder on the bass drum hits, and the snare hits and so on ... which will help you develop a more musical style

to illustrate: i know that my favorite drummers tend to play the snare a lil (prolly only milliseconds) behind the beat. now ... if you practice to a metronome, and get used to the mathematical tickin rhythm ... you will prolly have difficulties locking in with the snare of a drummer who does play musically...

apart from that...i think practicing along to drum grooves actually is a lot more fun, since it makes even your practice session sound at least somewhat interesting...hence you will practice a lot more/longer ...

tear me up in midair for this comment if you will

:)

oh yeah ... i do NOT think practicin to a metronome is a bad idea per se ... it can actually help you in some ways...i just dont think it should be done exclusively !

[Edited by supercoolslides on 01-08-2004 at 12:43 PM]

You suck. Oh you have been torn.

*note sarcasm*

Yeah I hate the sound of a metronome too man. I don't think anyone gets there jam on to it. They're good for practicing scales and building up since you can't really do that with a drum loop.

on some drum forum i have read a cool trick that i think can also be used for practicin guitar

use your sequencer program, draw in a drum loop, and then delete every other quarter note, or every other measure...practice to it and see if you can still play with the correct timing :)

know what i mean?
lets say this is the drum loop ...( O=bd, X=sn)

OOXOOOXOOOXOOOXOOOXOOOX

then you erase parts so it would look like this

(....=silence)

OOXO....OOXO....OOXO....OXOO.... or even
OOXO........OOXO........OXOO.... and so on ....

i think this is a great way to practice/develop your "inner" metronome :)

That just sounds like a good way to improve your rhythem playing !