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November 2006
Posts: 217
Location: Snåsa, Norway | I recently started to use a metronome while practicing. I soon found that I speed ahead of the metronome at almost any speed when fingerpicking. I've almost exclusively played by myself, so I guess I've got some really bad habits about keeping a steady rythm. Should I get my hammer and break the metronome and try to keep my illusions about my rythm sense, or is there still a chance for a 43 old to break them bad habits?. (I'm not good at dancing either, by the way) :confused: |
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February 2004
Posts: 1634
Location: Warren,Pa. | Can't help with the dancing...maybe Al.
I ve heard from several guitarists over the years that a metronome is one of the most important teachers you can have. All of us should always be learning more about playing our guitars. Just comsider this more lessons.
John <>{ |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Don't give up on the metronome. Maybe having rythm is not all genetic and can be learned.
BrianT, my acoustic partner, is pretty good had holding the intended tempo and keeps me in check. It's funny... there are 4 or 5 songs we play where we have to really concentrate on keeping time. The first verse starts out fine, then for some reason we speed up in the chorus. Next thing you know we are in a death spiral like water circling the drain.
The real moment of truth was when I tried recording multiple tracks. I'd lay down a basic rythm track. When I'd try to layer over it my lack of a consistant tempo stuck out like a sore thumb.
And sometimes it is just a built up bad habit.
As a finger picking exercise I like to play "Desperado" just a fast as I can. Now it's very difficult to play that song at the proper tempo. |
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Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Tap your feet/foot. |
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December 2003
Posts: 13987
Location: Upper Left USA | Practice, practice, practice as they say.
Metro-gnomes or standing next to a mean Drummer with a long reach! That'll do it.
I usually play with my weight to one leg and end up tapping the other foot. For something different try using a "shaker" and follow (hopefully) a song being played to try and discipline a different part of the brain for rythym. |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Play Jazz! There is no rhythm involved! |
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June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | ...or the banjo |
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June 2002
Posts: 863
Location: Central Florida | I used to do a lot of session work when I lived in Miami, and I have pretty fair sense of timing (I don't believe anyone has perfect time), but for the life of me I could NEVER play to a click track. They'd always throw me off way more than just keeping time myself. |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Dancers are trained to count beats and absolutely depend upon a consistent tempo. The music on top of the beat is almost immaterial. In fact, during my dancing career, with most of our material well over 100 beats/minutes, it was easy (and quite disturbing) to recognize music tempo increases or decreases of just a few beats per minute. My son plays drums in a rock band and for the past five years, he has kept a metronome going through an earplug at all times. Without it, he would rush every song. Our drummer keeps maintains a metronome on his music stand as well. |
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August 2003
Posts: 2246
Location: Yucaipa, California | Erik,
I used a metronome for a while and just couldn't hear it. Then I bought one of these:
Alesis Drum Machine
...what a difference! It didn't break the bank as far as $$ and is far superior to the metronome. It also will show you very clearly when you wander from the
"truth" as it were.
Check it out... it really will help......yes, Jim, it also helps to keep the banjo on tempo! |
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June 2005
Posts: 231
Location: N.J. | Metronome at any age. When you play live most ppl have a tendency to speed up.The worst is when your a drummer and you cant play to a click.If your producer is anal you'll be replaced in a minute if your doing session work. You would be surprised how just practicing with one helps your strumming hand to be much more consistant as well as your fingering technique. |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Break the bad habit. I have a good sense of rhythm, but when I started using click tracks I had a terrible time staying on. The trick I found is to get used to it by making sure the tempo was set to the one I was used to playing a given song at. After I became accustomed to it, I could change the click tempo and stay with it.
If you're working with midi or loops, or collaborating long distance, being able to play to a set tempo is a great tool to have in the toolbox. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12754
Location: Boise, Idaho | I can't remember when I was 43, so I couldn't tell you if it's too late to change. In 10 more years, you'll be slower at everything, so if you're too fast now, you should be fine when you're my age.
Another reason why I don't play with others. |
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November 2005
Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | Metronomes are wonderful, and its certainly never too late to start using one.
When I'm working out a difficult new fingerstyle piece, the first major milestone is being able to play it end to end with a metronome. Even if I'm playing at 1/4 the final speed, I think it is essential to maintain timing discipline.
One thing I notice is some players can't play certain licks slowly. They practice, and they get used to playing licks as fast as they can. If you ask them to play them a little slower, they are stumpped. |
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January 2003
Posts: 1498
Location: San Bernardino, California | Here's a tip a music teacher told me:
Put one in your car. Every time you get in the car set the beat to a different count. 'Tick' along with the metronome. |
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November 2006
Posts: 217
Location: Snåsa, Norway | Ok, thanks for all your tips and advice :D
I definately will keep and use the metronome. I'm already getting used to it, and think I get the timing better. I've been a little skeptical about the idea of having a mechanical device in control of the tempo of the music, since tempo variaton can be part of the musical expression sometimes but that does not mean its a good thing to not be able to keep the rythm. I've just got me another tool to help me along my lifelong path of musical challenges. |
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October 2006
Posts: 5575
Location: big island | a metronome wrist watch...now there's an idea! |
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October 2006
Posts: 5575
Location: big island | i just checked. they already make 'em...
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4136/is_200409/ai_n9434... |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Originally posted by BruDeV:
Here's a tip a music teacher told me:
Put one in your car. Every time you get in the car set the beat to a different count. 'Tick' along with the metronome. That could be handy. For many reasons...
Rumor has it that the song, Radar Love by Golden Earring is responsible for many, many traffic tickets.
It is always played a 3 am. And the tempo gets progressively faster.
White lines roll by, next thing you know, you're going 90!
Oh, and I'm guilty of playing too fast too.
Especially once I'm on a roll! |
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Breaking bad old habits
