Working With A Metronome Part 1

In this set of tutorials, instructor Rob Schumann shows you how to use a metronome to develop a solid feel for basic beat subdivisions. As the metronome is the secret weapon of many virtuoso guitarists, this skill is vital for beginning and intermediate-level players. Part 1 of 5.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• guitar
• instruction
• ivideosongs
• lessons
• metronome
• music
• tempo

[Lehmann108]

As a drummer I really appreciate you making this video. So many melodic instrument players are rhythmically challenged!

[iVideosongs]

@Lehmann108 Indeed. Drummers run the engine room.

[bluenote71]

I really wasn't expecting to see Alex Lifeson at the end of this.

[Demoras]

Not true. This actually practices your timing. It's very important.

When I play, I usually tap with my foot for the rhythm.

[Demoras]

@arseniyonline1234555 That is absolutely false :) Tapping the foot does not require exact coordination at all. It is a matter of getting the feeling of the rhythm in your body. When I'm playing bass I often "walk" with my legs a little, I've seen musicians do it before and I'm doing it automatically. You could do anything, really. This only helps your rhythm, and will actually keep you in the correct rhythm. Counting in your head is very, very prone to errors.

[arseniyonline1234555]

@Demoras but taping your foor requires more coordination so could drag you behind, also you will slow down and speed up by tiny amounts

[ShortFingeredShreder]

Wow, that's a CLEAN fretboard!

[HellsHighwayTrooper]

Why use your feet for rhythm when you got your ears? lol

[mohokios]

@Demoras yeap...:) to each their own:) but well, rythm and feeling is in our head, metronome helps to keep it steady afterall :P hehe :)

[Demoras]

@mohokios Yeah man, to each their own, right? :P Metronomes are indeed very handy for getting the correct rhythm and it's great for practising your timing. When actually playing I usually use either my foot, or sometimes I rock my head back and forth slightly. But I've also seen famous artists use a metronome on stage, and they're awesome!

So yeah, to each their own :) All roads lead to Rome.

[mohokios]

@Demoras i can feel the rythm even with metronome... got used to it after so many years.... but well another technical reason i like using metronome is the speed of things... your foot can never be sure if this is 120 or 125 or whatever speed, you also can check your limits with it for good...... i just want to say that metronome is good for techincal reasons... practice, play steady, check limits, with no efforts moving your foot, but some things are matter of taste anyway :)

[Demoras]

@mohokios That's why you should always first practise with a metronome when you start out. At first you won't be able to keep the correct rhythm all the time, but as you get better the foot is the way to go. You need to feel the rhythm, and no metronome can do that for you. In the end you won't even be needing the foot anymore because you just mentally keep the rhythm going in your head.

[mohokios]

@Demoras foot isn't always the best way to keep the rythmn... at complex things or high speeds noone can really concetrate at 100% to play and count with foot.. that's why metronome is so important... i was using my foot too but well... with metronome things became much easier...