![]() It comes with many stock sequences, and programming a cool percussion pattern is fairly easy. Also Frozen Ape’s Tempo Advance has even better sounds (IMHO), with volume controls for each subdivision.Īkai iMPC is also an excellent sequencing app for iOS. Has many sound sets, one of which is the “Pro” sound set that I prefer. At around $180, however, it’s very pricey.įrozen Ape Tempo This is pretty much the leading metronome app for iOS and Android devices. Also has a few “rhythm coach” features that are really cool. Beat DB-90 A really versatile and flexible stand-alone metronome, with separate volume controls for 8th, 16th and triplet subdivisions. Here are some products I’ve used and recommend:īoss Dr. If you use creativity and variation, a metronome or equivalent can be an extremely effective tool. Then turn it back on and see if your tempo drifted.ĭeveloping a solid internal clock is neither quick nor easy. After a good while of solid metronome practice, try turning it off for a bit (on the same or similar materials). Turn it offĮven in the most metronome-intensive practice, I find not using it at times to be just as valuable as using it. That’s great in time your ears will adjust and you can perhaps turn it down even a bit lower. You should find that doing this makes you a little uncomfortable at first. As an exercise, try setting the metronome low enough so that it’s just slightly difficult to hear, and you have to focus your ears more sharply, and see how you fare. The intention is to develop our own internal sense of solid time, rather than getting into the habit of deferring it to an outside source. This way, you begin to free yourself of any mental dependency to the click and work in a way that is more complementary. Second, turning the metronome down forces you to listen to it more closely–and more closely in balance with your playing. The higher the metronome is cranked, the less attention your ears pay to the instrument. First, it brings everything into better balance, where you can hear the instrument balanced with the metronome. Turning the volume of the metronome down has a couple benefits. I believe that this creates a mental attachment that can be a hindrance to ones development. One thing I experience with some students is that they often tend to blast their metronome in their ears at an extremely loud volume relative to the instrument. Try different subdivisions, a different percussion pattern or use different sounds. It’s always a good idea to vary what you do, be creative and mix it up. In fact, graduating your practice over time can be very effective: This puts more responsibility on you to play solidly. When you become accustomed and comfortable with subdivisions in place, it’s a good idea to take them out as a next step. At the very least, I recommend finding a metronome or app that allows you to bring the dynamics of the subdivisions down well below the main beats (i.e. However, as mentioned above, it’s vitally important to utilize musical-sounding subdivisions that have sonic and dynamic variance to them. Personally, I am in favor of using them, especially at first, because it helps me to hear and feel them to a greater degree, which in turn helps me to play the time more solidly. Many people have differing (and opposing) opinions on whether or not to employ subdivisions on their metronome. Beyond that, even more elaborate percussion patterns with congas and bongos can be fun to play with for a bit of variety, and it will make you listen in a different way. It works well for me because there is an inherent sense of dynamics and feel that make it easier to hear and feel the time. One of the things I did after purchasing my first computer is create a simple quarter-note cowbell and 8th- or 16th-note shaker sound. A device-powered app or computer DAW that has built-in percussion sounds can really open things up. In that spirit, it’s helpful to note that your regular practice metronome needn’t even be a metronome. I recently did a lesson with a student who pondered aloud why he enjoyed playing along to my metronome more than in his own personal practice. They put little to no effort into their sounds. In fact, that’s where I feel most metronomes or metronome apps do a poor job. ![]() Use musical sounds, not mechanicalįor me, there’s nothing more mind-numbingly stiff than the robotic BLEEP-bloop-bloop-bloop sound of many metronomes. Below are four key ideas I feel are very helpful. ![]() Examining your approach can go a long way towards making your practice more musical and inspiring. All too often I hear someone say, “Use a metronome”, and the discussion ends there. Yet, I seem to encounter even fewer who really put a good deal of thought into exactly how they utilize it. Few musicians doubt that practicing with a metronome can help them build a stronger, more solid sense of time.
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