Here's my problem:
I can keep a pretty good tempo on my own, but it's never exactly the right one for the song, and more importantly, my strumming lacks energy when I try to keep my own tempo. I don't have a problem with rhythm; I keep my hand moving up and down at the same speed, just with choosing the correct tempo. The strange part is, when I use a metronome, my strumming "locks in" and all of a sudden it sounds like it's got some....energy...feeling, whatever. I hope that makes sense.
I can't believe I'm going to be stuck playing solo with a metronome for the rest of my life. I've been playing for a year now. I'm comfortable with "Still the Same" and "MY MY Hey Hey" and am learning "Needle and the Damage Done".
Do you have any recommendations for getting the metronome inside my head to turn on?
Thanks,
Ken
No metronome in my head!
I reckon having a metronome in your head might get a bit old after a while mate! 
Look I gotta confess I don't practice with a metronome as much as I should and try to rely on natural timing, which is a bit like relying on a "natural sense of direction"...you tend to get lost a lot. I think the more you play a particular tune with a metronome in practice, the better feel you will have for the tempo when you play it without. It's just practice and getting the right groove for the song, and a metronome is a great aid for that. My theory is that using a metronome makes some of us feel that we have no natural rhythm and timing and so we avoid it, but that's silly really.
Now I need to practice what I preach. Hope that helps a little.
Look I gotta confess I don't practice with a metronome as much as I should and try to rely on natural timing, which is a bit like relying on a "natural sense of direction"...you tend to get lost a lot. I think the more you play a particular tune with a metronome in practice, the better feel you will have for the tempo when you play it without. It's just practice and getting the right groove for the song, and a metronome is a great aid for that. My theory is that using a metronome makes some of us feel that we have no natural rhythm and timing and so we avoid it, but that's silly really.
Now I need to practice what I preach. Hope that helps a little.
It sounds like you are putting effort into keeping time because you have not worked with the Metronome enough and so your strumming suffers because of it. I forget where I saw it, but Eric Clapton said he still works with a metronome when he is working on a new song to make sure his timing is right.
Its a great tool. Use it till you get it in your head.
If you just can't seem to get it, then use a drum track instead and listen to the big bass (kick drum) for your timing.
Its a great tool. Use it till you get it in your head.
If you just can't seem to get it, then use a drum track instead and listen to the big bass (kick drum) for your timing.