Reddit mentions: The best metronomes

I would suggest actually not learning scales via intervals nor patterns.

Learn them by their actual note names. For example, a C major diatonic scale is C, D, E, F, G, A, B ascending in Ionian mode. From there, learn scale degrees. When I'm performing, I'm usually not thinking about theory at all, but when my head goes to theory, it goes to note names. This is ideal if you later intend to get into arranging, composition, and sight-reading.

Start out by playing a standard scale, for example the Segovia scales:

http://www.amazon.com/Diatonic-Major-Scales-Andres-Segovia/dp/1598060597

As you play them, say aloud "C," "D," "E..." with each one. Watch yourself do it. Feel your fingers do it. The idea is to engage as many of your senses as possible. Doing so will help with your memory.

Once you get a feel for how to play all the notes in C major around the fretboard, skip around the fretboard playing all the notes in the key. As you do, say the note names out loud. Then play them ascending. Then descending. Switch it up. Starting on the low E string, you should be able to play (while you say aloud) "E F G" (then onto the 5th string) "A B C" (4th) "D E F" (3rd) "G A" (2nd) "B C D" (1st) "E F G" and then back down to the open low E. Do this with a metronome while gradually increasing speed.

Then do the same thing, but this time say the scale degrees. C is 1, D is 2, E is 3 etc.

The idea is that you should eventually be able to play any note on the fretboard at random and instantly know what the actual note name is (e.g. F) and what the scale degree is (4). Eventually you will do this for all keys.

Running scales is good for working on picking technique and fingering, but you don't actually play those patterns when you're performing.

When performing, you play licks, and to improvise licks, you need to have an intuitive feel of what notes you're playing as they relate to the key you're in. That means knowing the note name and the scale degree without having to think about it.

If you don't already have the entire fretboard memorized (chromatically I mean), you should work on that as well. Play a random note on the fretboard and figure out what it is—count up the chromatic scale if you have to at first—and say it out loud. Do this as quickly as you can without making any mistakes, using a metronome to force you to do it at tempo. Gradually increase your speed until you instantly know every single note anywhere on the fretboard. The goal here is to be able to play any note at random and instantly be able to say "This is an F#" or "This is a C#" etc. If you set your metronome to 120 and play quarter notes and can randomly play any note on the fretboard and name it aloud, 2 per second, you're very well prepared to read any music you're going to face in the real world.

If you don't know how to read music, I recommend this book before the Segovia one from above:

http://www.amazon.com/Daily-Guitar-Reading-Technique-Studies/dp/0786682809

It's designed for absolute beginners to reading music on guitar and has 30 daily studies, just simple whole notes at first without any movement, on up to reading simple lines, and by day 30, you're sight reading whole chords.

USE A METRONOME.

If you don't already have one, my favorite is the Boss DB-90, although they're expensive. It's such an important practice tool, though, that I think it's worth it. They're $160 new or cheaper used. You can get a simple electronic metronome that doesn't do subdivisions for closer to $10 if that's more in your budget:

http://www.amazon.com/Qwiktime-QT3-Qwik-Time-Metronome/dp/B0002F75EM

USE A METRONOME!

If you can afford it, a nice set of strings would always be appreciated! This set is one of the better combinations around. There is also an option to buy a silk bag for cheap if you buy those strings, but even that would be a great gift alone :)

Otherwise, If he likes to practice in the evening, a heavy duty mute maybe? I use the Artino Cello Practice Mute

If he needs a endpin stop, the Dycem Black Hole hasn't failed me yet!

What kind of level is he? You could buy him some nice sheet music! Are you musical? Buy something you can play together!

Does he have a metronome? A nice mechanical metronome like the TakTell Piccolo would be ideal!

1. I can't answer this one very well as I get distracted all through my practise sessions with my phone and playing with my cats but I try to average about half an hour of practisting pieces and about 10 minutes of scales to warm up. If I have a quiet day I''ll try and get an hour in.
   
2. To begin with I had one or two "main" pieces I practised on that was like a proper bit of music, one or two pages of something like Hall of the Mountain King or Fur Elise (I know, I know) which would take me a few weeks to learn and perfect and then I would try and keep my favourites of those up to speed so I had a rudimentary repertoire. But at the same time I would have two or three shorter pieces that were more about technique from the lesson book and I would get them down each week then move on to another set of pieces.
   
3. Learn to sight read and how to read ahead. Eventually stuff is going to get complicated enough that you can't memorise it all. I got used to tempo with a metronome, I like this one because it's small and the ticking isn't so loud that it's going to bother other people but you can't set it to "bing" at the start of a new bar. I don't need it as much now but it definitely helped at the start.
   
4. The exams helped focus my lessons and I improved a lot faster with them and it made me learn the theory and technical bits to playing piano but I don't know if that was just my tutor teaching better when we working towards them.

You may not like this tip but....learn how to read music and some basic theory. You can basically never be as accurate when you learn by ear compared to learning from a score, because performers might take all sorts of liberties that aren't really part of the actual music.

So to answer you question, while it took time technically to execute good phrase structures and accurate rhythms, it also wasn't really that difficult because it's all laid out on the score and doesn't really take much effort on my part.

That's not to say I don't struggle with tricky rhythms or phrases, but I can take it apart methodically and eventually get it, because I understand what is going on with the music. I personally find that way easier than trying to just learn by rote, especially knowing that my ears aren't always perfect.

Edit: Oh, and I just thought of another point with rhythm/timing -- invest in a metronome! Something like this is pretty inexpensive and can be extremely helpful for practice. It's really important to start slow and work up to your final tempo, and a metronome can help keep you in check and make sure you're keeping a steady beat, especially when you're working slowly.

All of the cheaper metronomes are pretty much the same. I use this, which is probably the best metronome money can buy (it's pricey). It's fantastic and you should strongly consider it if you plan to play using a metronome all the time, like I do. Way better than jumping back to the computer to change tempo constantly, IMHO. It can also emit a wide range of tones to help you practice tuning by ear.

The easiest way I can think of is to buy a metronome with a 'tap tempo' feature. Listen to the song, and tap along.

It might take a while to find the exact BPM as almost no one can physically tap as consistently as a machine, but it will definitely help. Something like this would be good, and there are probably a lot of metronome apps that can do it as well for a few bucks.

Check out something like this to track what tempo he's playing: https://www.amazon.com/Backbeater-Advanced-Metronome-Drummers-Smartphone/dp/B07L96JY1G/

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That's a cool option because it lets you gradually work your frenzied guitarist back to a root tempo, giving you that baseline.

If he really needs an actual metronome, this is an excellent option: https://www.amazon.com/Soundbrenner-Pulse-Vibrating-Metronome-Instruments/dp/B01AQNIOO4/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_267_t_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=ZPZM8WM1DYH20WPDN42E

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It's like a watch that vibrates tempo pulses onto your wrist. Way better than headphones.

I agree with the other comment... While I used to really like the classic metronomes I found that digital ones (such as pro metronome, a phone app) are extremely helpful because you can break down different subdivisions of beats (1/8 notes, 1/16th notes, triplets)

That being said. If you are just starting out the wooden ones are cool, but pricey. The Yamaha QT 1 works well, and sounds like the wooden guys!

Loving these suggestions!

I would also add - even if you can only get behind a full kit once a week, you should get a practice pad and metronome to use every day when you're at home. There are plenty of pads that are virtually silent, and you can easily find a metronome you can plug headphones into.

If you can afford it, the Tama Rhythm Watch is arguably the best out there.

Good luck!

The metronome I got was: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000B5MU4I/ref=oh_details_o06_s00_i00

I've only been using it about 2 weeks, so no promises on longevity, or resilience.

It beeps (and you can adjust the volume of the beep) and you set the particular bpm you want. I set it to 164, and make sure that one of my feet hits on each beep. If it works better for you to only have it beep for your right foot, you would set it for 82 (in my case).

That's the cadence, and then to go faster, you just kinda ... apply more power for each stride. Like when you're biking, you can maintain a certain number of rotations of your pedals, and when you want to go faster, you just apply more power, or increase your gear ... its kinda like that?

Again, I've only recently started playing around with it, and its not crazy easy to pick up the turn over without the cadence changing when you're not on a treadmill -- but its worth it in the long run (according to my PT, will report back in a few months :) ).

From the flute-beatboxing guy.

Edit: You don't actually need to be able to play the flute for this to be useful.

Also, a metronome will be useful to get some beat/rhythm. I've found a free app for both Android and ipod/iphone/ipad. Here's one for mac and one for PC. If you prefer the real version, here's a digital one and an pendulum one.

If you are looking to get better at creating grooves and basslines: I started off pretty simple; I would just turn on my drum machine and start messing around in a scale with just quarter notes, once I found a series of notes I liked I would start messing with note duration, then I would start adding ghost notes and octaves.

If you don't have a drum machine you can get a decent one pretty cheap; https://www.amazon.com/Korg-KORG-BEATBOY-Beatboy-Tuner-Metronome/dp/B00F0GQ6TS

If you struggle knowing scale shapes up the neck, a fellow redditor (big shoutout to /u/kiyoshigawa ) made a tool for that: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1IajtpPZ98HNMM_XqQE0gNwmeT8OzI0KIWdwo6KMBPOA/edit?usp=sharing and the original thread can be found here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Bass/comments/4u2mf2/scales_for_everyone/?st=itce5rk9&sh=892fe668

This is what worked for me, and a number of other people, but everyone is different. Hope this helps!

Don't worry, I used to do that all the time! That's one reason why it's beneficial to use a metronome. Mine looks like a green flying saucer. I've had it for about ten years. You can alternatively download a free metronome app for iPhone or android (or any OS presumably).

I like quartz metronomes. I've had this Seiko for five years, and it's great. Two tones, volume dial, and pretty tough. (I bought this after my 2nd Dr Beat II died)

Three suggestions to help you learn your target cadence:

1. Best would be with a watch/app with cadence sensor (Run+ strap or shoe sensor)
   
2. If you use a music player, load a 30-60second clip with the target BPM you want. 180bpm example w/ download. Then put it every 3 or 4 songs on your playlist. You'll still hear the beat in your head after the clips over and you start to learn without hearing it.
   
3. By a cheap pocket metronome and run with it from time to time. Turn it on when you want to check cadence and then turn it back off again so you learn without it.

"Tempo" by Frozen Ape has been my metronome app for nearly a decade. I just absolutely love the features and personally couldn't see myself going back to a physical metronome. In your case, it has tones of different tone sets so you can likely find something that fits you needs soundwise.

Before that, I used (and abused) a Korg MA-20 for years. That that thing met an angry end at the side of a practice room wall many a times when I was young, immature, impatient, and not smart about my practice... but it survived every time. I'd just find the pieces and batteries and snap it all back together. The Korg MA-1 looks like it's the current model of that line.

Why don't you try getting one of those mechanical metronomes? They look cool but are still very useful. Here's one listing from Amazon for $35, but there are many more.

http://www.amazon.com/Conductor-Mechanical-Metronome-Audible-Pyramid/dp/B00UR5AHCE/ref=sr_1_6?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1450414591&sr=1-6&keywords=metronome+mechanical

An old fashioned mechanical metronome would be pretty cool. Something like this

> But I find that a metronome helps me think. Is that strange?

This is the purpose of a metronome. Contrary to popular belief, it is not your enemy. It is your friend.

If you're using it while writing, this may not matter, but when practicing I prefer the metronome to be loud so I don't have to worry about playing over it. This one is quite loud, which some people don't like. I also have a tiny clip-on one that's quieter and can carry with me in an instrument case.

Maybe take these comments with a grain of salt because I use them to practice, not write.

Cadillac is right - it's certainly on what I'd call the premium end, price-wise.

Of course Peterson likes its spendy music tools.

The greatest metronome in existence.

I'm not a super great player, but here goes:

• get a metronome (or Google "metronome". Google has one that you can set to the bpm you want.
  
• learn different 4x4 strumming patterns.
  
• start slow. Like 40bpm. It might sound stupid at first, but start slow and work your way up, until you have perfected that pattern.
  
• PRACTICE!

Ah yes, a Dr. Beat met.

Get a metronome. Set it to the slowest tempo that allows you to play the changes cleanly. Focus on the parts of the song you're struggling with. Slowly increase the tempo.

If you start falling behind the metronome or fluffing the changes, turn the tempo down until you can play it cleanly.

I use this Korg MA-1 Metronome and it works fine for me:
http://www.amazon.com/Korg-MA1BL-Visual-Counting-Metronome/dp/B0055BMQG0/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1421195961&sr=8-5&keywords=metronome

A Metronome.

Everyone talks about timing, but nobody does anything but count. You can get a wearable metronome for less than $10

Probably a Dr. Beat or something similar.

I'm completely out of my element when it comes to metronome's. Anyone used either of these and have an opinion?

https://www.amazon.com/KLIQ-MetroPitch-Metronome-Instruments-Chromatic/dp/B072636YXX/ref=sr_1_8?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1543171663&sr=1-8&keywords=metronome&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/Seiko-SQ50-V-Quartz-Metronome/dp/B000LFCXL8/ref=sr_1_4?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1543171771&sr=1-4&keywords=metronome&refinements=p_72%3A1248939011