The Metronome Song

Now let's break down and practice a little song and then we'll play it with the metronome.

Let's start on our A minor chord now and play our strumming pattern. If the strumming pattern is still a little bit too difficult you're welcome to simplify it by just playing quarter notes, or all 8th notes. The most important thing right now is that you're following the metronome, specifically what you play is much less important.

We'll do A minor for 4 bars and then we'll switch to C major for 4 bars. Then we'll go to E minor and play that for 4 bars. Finally we'll go to D major and play that for 4 bars. Finally we won't repeat it, we'll just end on an A minor chord that we let ring.

Remember that you have the option of strumming the open strings before changing chords, if that helps.

Now let's try our new song with the metronome at 75 BPM. Feel free to just watch and listen a few times before playing along yourself, and remember that you're welcome to simplify the strumming pattern if that helps. The most important thing is that you practice following the metronome, what you play is much less important.

I hope this tutorial has made you see the value in having the metronome as a practicing partner. Learning to play with good rhythm is one of the best things you can do for your sound and it's something everyone should start working on as soon after they pick up a guitar as possible. It can be hard, but the return is more than worth it, because playing with strong rhythm makes everything you do sound like music.

Instructor Anders Mouridsen
Tutorial:
Metronome Practice
Styles:
Any Style
Difficulty:
The Metronome Song song notation

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Questions & Answers

1 year ago
I’m a little confused on using the Metronome. I see four dots. If strumming whole notes 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 should I strum & between the dots or strum &s on the dots?
Josh Workman 1 year ago

Hi Chuck, good question! In this case the clicks are actually quarter notes, named because four of them add up to one measure (or bar) of music in 4/4 time. There are four quarter notes per whole note. If you hold a chord four clicks, then THAT is a whole note or one bar in 4/4 time-four beats per measure and each beat is a quarter note. Now to answer you ACTUAL question: When strumming 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &, those are all eighth notes. You want to place the "&" exactly half way between each click. In this exercise, you will play the &s with an upstroke. Notice that when he is holding a quarter note, his right hand is still moving as if a ghosted & is being played. This helps you stay in rhythm. I hope this helps!