How to Select a Metronome
Source: Guitar Accessories
How to Select a Metronome:
It is very important to keep the correct timing in any song you play. In fact, timing is second in importance only to playing the correct notes in a song. If you play a song in what is considered “off-the-beat”, or slightly behind, or ahead of the tune, the song will sound terrible to most people.
Also, the correct amount of time that you give to each note is equally important as this is what listeners follow to recognize the song and enjoy your musicianship.
We have talked a great deal about the timing that each note gets in our previous lessons, but we have never discussed the overall issue of “keeping time” for a song.
There are several devices available to help us musicians with this difficult task. They are called Metronomes.
For your convenience, I have a selected about 15 different metronomes that are great values, and very useful tools for you to add to your collection of practicing aids.
Tools That Help Us:
Since it is hard for most people to do more than one thing at once, (myself included), aids have been developed to help make keeping time an easier thing to do.
The Mechanical Metronome: Metronomes started out as a mechanical device before the age of electronics. Most metronomes were pyramid shaped devices made from wood and they had a metal swinging bar with a sliding weight, which allows you to adjust the speed of the mechanical “tick-tock” sound. (Refer to the photo at the beginning of this article).
These Wood Metronomes are still available today and are almost considered works of art. While some dedicated musicians still prefer this type of metronome, they have been clearly overshadowed by their electronic cousins, the electronic metronome.
Electronic Metronomes: These can be devices that are dedicated to the task of keeping correct timing or they can me combined with other electronic gadgets such a electronic tuners. This is probably the largest group of metronomes available to you.
Computer Application Metronomes: Many computer programs that are dedicated to writing, composing and arranging music on the computer, include a computer version of a metronome to help along the creative music writing task.
Programs such as Garage Band by Apple Computer, or Guitar Pro have built-in metronomes that are very easy to use, don’t cost you any addition money, and are extremely accurate. They are also very versatile and allow you to customize the metronome to fit your style of playing and practicing habits.
Add-On Metronomes:
With the popularity of smart phones, you knew it was only a matter of time before an app came out for a metronome. There are several to choose from, some are really great and will do a fine job for you, so this is something you could look into if you have a smart phone.
Our Very Own Built-In Metronome:
Every one of us carries around with us our own personal metronomes. We have 2 of them and they are our feet. When you keep time with a song by tapping your foot your are using your own, very personal, metronome.
The major problem with this metronome is that it is not very accurate and can be very temperamental, by stopping when you don’t want it too, giving uneven results and by not being able to control volume and frequency. The advantage? You always have it with you – therefore learn to use it the best you can.
You will find that by using your foot in combination with either an electronic or mechanical metronome, your foot with become trained and you will be able to use it without diverting attention from the music you are playing.
Tags: electronic metronome, guitar pro, how to select a metronome, mechanical metronome
