Should you use a metronome to practice?
Yes! Yes! and YES!
2. Brad, if I turn on a metronome while I practice will my time get better?
NO! The act of turning on a metronome does not magically make your timing better. But, with a little planning, it certainly can!
Here are a few tips
1. Imagine the metronome is a part of a drum groove, imagine the groove around the sounds of the metronome. This is as much about getting your musical imagination happening as it is about your physical time keeping. Don't just hear a click, hear a full band!
a) Is the groove a swing rhythm or something based on a backbeat?
Try having your metronome click on beats 2 and 4 only to emulate the
backbeat.
b) Is the groove straight time (ex. 16th note groove, Latin Music) ?
Or, a really fast tempo?
Try having the metronome click on beats 1 and 3 only. (even just beat 1)
2. Sometimes use the Metronome to check your ability to keep time, don't always have it keep time for you
Rather than have the metronome click on every beat, try having it click only
once in every bar. This helps you keep the time within the bars, rather than
rely on the metronome to play every beat
Pro Tip: Now try this same exercise with the metronome on other beats in the bar. (Beat 2, 3, or 4) THEN, see if you can keep it on an offbeat (and of 1, and of 2 and of 3, or and of 4)
I have a metronome application on my iPhone called called "Time Guru". This app lets me insert silent beats which means I can have multiple bars go by without a click. This is really testing my ability to keep time!!
3. Record yourself when you practice with the metronome! THEN, listen to the recording for accuracy!
You likely can't focus on the physical aspects of playing and also focus on
exactly where your time is in relation to the metronome. If you record
yourself and listen back when you are not playing, you can really
get a sense of whether you are on the center of the beat, playing a little
behind the beat, or ahead of the beat
4. What do I mean by the center of the beat, ahead or behind the beat?
This has to do with where your sound is in relation to the click track. Not all
music has to be dead center of the beat. But, that is a good place to start. Try
burying the click when you attack your notes. This means if you play
perfectly at the same time as the click you will not hear the click.
Drummers often call this burying the click
TRY THESE TIPS ONE AT A TIME AND SEE WHAT GIVES YOU THE BEST RESULTS. IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER TIPS PLEASE SHARE IN THE COMMENT SECTION
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