Good Metronome Practice Ideas

gravitas · #1 08-12-2009, 10:14 PM

Victor Wooten knows where it's at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X1fhVLVF_4

Word.

Jazzarian · #2 08-13-2009, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gravitas

Victor Wooten knows where it's at:

YouTube - Victor Wooten Prosessions

Word.

Forgive me for asking, how is metronome practice any better than BIAB practice?

The latter being considerably more enjoyable, I'd think.

DrSatan · #3 08-13-2009, 01:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazzarian

Forgive me for asking, how is metronome practice any better than BIAB practice?

The latter being considerably more enjoyable, I'd think.

Saves you like $150 or so.

bako · #4 08-13-2009, 07:08 AM

It's all about the level of musical info that you want defined as you practice.

BIAB is a band simulation tool but doesn't respond to what you play. It provides maximum info re:harmony, groove etc. but it allows you to mute certain instruments to lighten the level of definition.

A metronome is all about rhythm. The level of definition can be modified by tempo and what you choose the click to represent. It leaves more to the imagination than a fully fleshed out groove in a drum machine would and harmonically we are free to play anything we hear.

The Victor Wooten video does a good job presenting a range of metronome approaches to rhythmic study.
Thanks Gravitas for the link.

Jake Hanlon · #5 08-13-2009, 07:12 AM

Metronome is imo superior to any play-along for several reasons, again this is IMO.

Mostly this stems from my feeling that for a guitarist Play-Along records are not a good idea to stick with for a long period of time. One thing that Metronomes do is it teaches you how to play in time, in any tempo and to hear the form and harmony for yourself without a tape giving it to you. Many young players I know have deficient ears because of an over reliance on BIAB or Aebersold Recordings. When used properly these are fine and fun to work with. I have used them for sure, but broke away from them and only look at them now when I am working on a tune with a particularily challenging form or harmonic profession.

BIAB is good because of the adjustments you can make. However it can be stifling creatively and just like an Abersold you can rely to much on having others there backing you up.

just my opinion.

derek · #6 08-13-2009, 11:40 AM

I dig playing along to BIAB and Aebersold, but HATE playing along with a metronome. Why? For the same reason I don't particularly like Brussel Sprouts or running. However, they are all good for me.

Working with a metronome makes your timing mistakes totally transparent. There is no mistaking it, no hiding. I have been spending more time with it recently, and am frankly embarassed by my ability (or lack there of) to stay with it consistently. Thanks for the link gravitas.

gravitas · #7 08-13-2009, 01:01 PM

No problem guys.... Glad it's coming in handy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazzarian

Forgive me for asking, how is metronome practice any better than BIAB practice?

The latter being considerably more enjoyable, I'd think.

BIAB spells out every beat for you. It's great if you're practicing for harmonic content, melody, or vocabulary, but if you're practicing to develop internal time, BIAB is basically training wheels. Vic's point in the video is to have perfect time with as little information as possible (ie, without somebody going tang tang ka tang tang to keep you on the straight and narrow). It may seem trivial, but it will give you the authority and the confidence to really lay it down in a live setting regardless of how much your band mates may be pushing or dragging.

I love BIAB though- I don't know what I'd do without it

John Curran · #8 08-13-2009, 01:43 PM

When honing your time skills, it's easy to get sloppy and just fall in with a drum machine or BIAB. When it's just you and the metronome, there is no place to hide, or rhythm section to fall back on. When you can make it swing/groove with just a metronome, then you know you've got it down.

Just my $.02

john

ejwhite09 · #9 07-27-2010, 03:06 PM

Remler, in her Hot Licks vid, suggests setting a metronome to click on 2 and 4 at about a tempo of 40-60, then you have to keep time with the metronome and it really teaches you where the swing is. It's also easy to know when you've go off time, because you should be counting 1-click-3-click. When those 1's and 3's start coming on the click you got problems.

tcrisalida · #10 07-27-2010, 04:07 PM

This post was really useful for me. I practice with both BIAB and the metronome but never thought about slowing the tempo down that far to "check myself". The first 6 months I used a metronome I was ready to throw it out the window - could have sworn it was "off." hmm... I guess it was me.. thanks for posting this.